Studies on the use of Cassia singueana in malaria ethnopharmacy.
Cassia singueana (Family: Fabaceae) is used in northern Nigeria for the treatment of acute malaria attack. We investigated the activities of the methanol extract of the root bark of this plant against rodent plasmodia infection, nociception, pyrexia and inflammation in mice and rats. The studies were carried out using acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate algesia, rodent plasmodia (Plasmodium berghei) in mice; formalin test, yeast-induced pyrexia and egg-albumin-induced inflammation in rats. The results showed that the extract exhibited significant antinociceptive, antipyretic and antiplasmodial activity in all the models used. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of phenols, saponins, tannins and some traces of anthraquinones. The LD50 of the extract was established to be 847+/-30 mg/kg, i.p. in mice. The observed pharmacological activities might be the scientific basis for the folkloric use of the plant in treating acute malaria attack. The study also paves way for the possible development of it, as a phytodrug against malaria.
Adzu
Bulus
B
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, PMB 21, Abuja, Nigeria. bulusadzu@yahoo.com
Abbah
Joseph
J
Vongtau
Habiba
H
Gamaniel
Karniyus
K
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D002366:Cassia / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000962:Antimalarials; D010936:Plant Extracts