SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE)

SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE)

Abstract:

Some pharmacological effects of the 70% ethanolic stem bark extract of Pterocarpus erinaceus were investigated in experimental animals. Preliminary Phytochemical studies of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of Tannins, Carbohydrates, Proteins & Amino acids, Flavonoids and Steroids. Acute toxicity test using Lorke’s method indicated LD50 values of the ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus to be 447.21mg/kg I.P and >5000mg/kg P.o in rats. In the sub acute toxicity studies, haematological parameters like Haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), Platelet count, White blood cell count (WBC) and differential count of WBC were within normal limits. A significant decrease (P<0.05) in bleeding time was observed in rats treated with 200mg/kg extract. The clotting time only slightly decreased. The extract P.o did not cause any death during the period (30 days) of administration. The ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus at doses 50,100 and 200mg/kg body weight caused significant (P<0.05) dose dependent antinociceptive activity in both (central and peripheral) pain models used. The peripheral action may be linked partly to lipooxygenase and / or cyclo-oxygenase, while the central antinociception is probably mediated via opioid receptors in the CNS. The ethanolic stem bark extract produced significant (P<0.01-0.001) dose dependent antiinflammatory effects against egg-albumin induced inflammation in rats. The effect of the extract was however lower than the standard drug used piroxicam. The ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus relaxed the isolated pregnant rat uterus. Oxytocin induced contractions of the pregnant rat uterus was blocked by the extract dose dependently. The studies on isolated guinea- pig ileum and rabbit jejunum smooth muscles demonstrated that the ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus produced a dose dependent relaxation these muscles. The extract also attenuated the contractile effects of acetyl choline on these tissues dose dependently. This finding might lend credence to the use of the stem bark of the plant in the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery traditionally. From the results of this work and information from literature, flavonoids and tannins identified during phytochemical screening of the extract may be the biologically active principles responsible for the haemostatic, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and gastrointestinal effects of the ethanolic stem bark extract of P.erinaceus.

SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE ETHANOLIC STEM BARK EXTRACT OF PTEROCARPUS ERINACEUS POIR (FABACEAE)

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