PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY) STUDIES OF CARISSA EDULIS VAHL. (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY) STUDIES OF CARISSA EDULIS VAHL. (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)

Abstract:

This study deals mainly with the pharmacognostic and biological (analgesic activity) studies of the roots, stem, leaves, fruits and seeds of the plant Carissa edulis Vahl. Carissa edulis belongs to the family Apocynaceae it is a much branched straggling or climbing glabrous shrub up to 16ft (5m) high with paired 2inch (5cm) axillary spines. In northern Nigeria the plant is used with other plants in treating sickle cell anaemia and for treating stomach ailment especially hernia. The fruits are also edible. A detailed macroscopical, microscopical, evaluation of the morphological parts of the plant and phytochemical studies were carried out. The microscopical studies showed the plant to contain laticifers characteristic of thfamily Apocynaceae but without a bicollateral (interxylary phloem) vascular bundle. Peculiar groups of epidermal cells were also seen in the upper epidermis of the leaves (a group of panenchyma cells formed a circle with the upper epidermal cells between the elongated palisade cells). The following quantitative values were obtained from the evaluation of the crude vegetable products: moisture content, roots, 8.0% w/w, stem 10.4% w/w leaves 12 . 6% w/ , P, fruits 6.1%w / , seeds 9.3%w/w; ash value, roots 13.5% w/ stem, 15.(?%w/, leaves 8 .w5% / , fruits 3.7%w/w, seeds 7.5w%/ acid insolubule ash value, roots 6.0%w/w, stem 5.7%w/w, leaves 2.0%w/w, fruits 1.2%w/w, seeds 3.2%w/w, alchohol soluble extractive value,: roots, 13.3%w/w, stem, 4.0%w/w, leaves, 20.7%w/w, friuts, 28.3w% /w, seeds, 27w.3% /w, and water soluble extractive value: roots, 12.0%w/w, stem, lO.O%w/w, leaves, 17.0%w/w, fruits, 25%w/w, seeds, 24.3%w/w.The phytochemical screening of different parts of the plant studied revealed the presence of carbohydrate;;, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycoside, cyanogenic glycoside;; (found present only in the Leaves), saponins, steroids and terpenes. Alkalojids,anthraquinones, Resins and balsams were, however absent. The presence of lipids was observed in chemo-microscopy. Chromatographic analysis indicated the presence of salicylates in the water extracts Co-chromatographic analyses on paper and thin Layer indicated the presence of methyl salicylates. The analgesic activity studies showed the water extracts of all organs had activity. The fruit was found to be most active followed by the leaves, seeds, root and stem respectively. Significant different P<0.05 was obtained with 50mg/kg roots water extract at 30mins and P<0.001 with 50mg/kg seeds and lOOmg/kg fruits water extracts at 45 mins after intraperitonial administrations of the extracts. The doses used were 10, 50, 100 and 150mg per kg body weight of mice, and were prepared from a stock solution of O.lg in 5ml of water extracts of the different parts of the plant were used. 10,20 and 30mg/kg body weight of metamizol (Analgin(R)) were used as the standard analgesic. (Ampoules of 20mg/5ml were purchased). This would justify the use of the plant as analgesics.

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND BIOLOGICAL (ANALGESIC ACTIVITY) STUDIES OF CARISSA EDULIS VAHL. (FAMILY APOCYNACEAE)