Journal of Research in Plant Sciences An International Scientific Research Journal Journal of Research in Plant Sciences Original Research Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae) Authors: Chinedu Fred Anowi 1, Ezugwu CO2, Ilodigwe EE3, Ajaghaku DL4 . Institution: 1.Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 2.Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. ABSTRACT: Purpose-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was claimed to have anti pyretic, analgesic and antimicrobial properties. The people of Idemili area in Anambra State of Nigeria use the decoction of it to treat wounds, running stomach, aches and pains as well as fever. It is to this backdrop that this investigation was carried out to ascertain the veracity of the claim. Methodology-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was collected and dried at ambient temperature. It was pulverized into powder. 500 gm of the powdered drug was placed into a two litre beaker containing one litre of methanol. It was allowed to stand with occasional shaking for 48 h. The content was filtered and the filtrate was concentrated using rotary evaporator. The extract contains the following secondary metabolites-alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides. The antipyretic a ti it as i estigated usi g re er’s east to i du e p re ia. Result -The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata exhibited significant (p<0.05) antipyretic effect at 600 mg/kg from 1 h to 4 h and at 3 h to 4 h at 300 mg/kg compared with the control. Conclusion-The claim of Idemili people of Anambra State Nigeria on the use of Ritchiea longipedicellata appears to be obvious in line with the results of the investigation. 4.Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Keywords: Ritchiea paracetamol. Corresponding author: Chinedu Fred Anowi Article Citation: Chinedu Fred Anowi, Ezugwu CO, Ilodigwe EE, Ajaghaku DL. Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae) Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195 Web Address: http://plantsciences.info documents/PS0048.pdf. Dates: Received: 26 Dec 2012 longipedicellata, re er’s east, Accepted: 10 Jan 2013 re tal ther o eter a d Published: 20 Apr 2013 This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Journal of Research in Plant Sciences An International Scientific Research Journal 192-195 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 2 www.plantsciences.info Anowi et al.,2013 identified by a Taxanomist Mr. Alfred Ozioko of INTRODUCTION The role of medicinal plants in primary Bioresource Development and Conservation Project, healthcare delivering system have long been established Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was subsequently (Sofowora, 1982). Population growth, inaccessibility and cleaned, air dried and pulverized. inadequate supply of drugs, cost, side effects and Extraction resistance to currently used drugs, have encouraged the About 500 g of powdered dried rootbark was wide use of natural products as sources of medicines. In cold macerated in 1 L of methanol for 48 h with south eastern Nigeria, R. longipedicellata have been occasional agitations. The extract was subsequent filtered employed in the treatment of many disease conditions. and concentrated in vaccuo at 40°C using rotary The root and leaves when chewed, relieve pain, cold, evaporator. and upper respiratory tract infections. It is as well use for Phytochemical Analysis the treatment of typhoid fever, malaria and general illness. The phytochemical analysis of the extract was done using the standard methods (Odebiyi and Sofowora, Normal body temperature is regulated by complex mechanisms involving the coordination of 1978; Treas and Evans, 1983). Experimental animals autonomic, endocrine and behavioral responses (Dalal Adult albino mice 25-30 g and rats 150 -180 g of and Zhukovsky, 2006). Pyrexia or fever which is an both sex were obtained from the Department of elevation of normal body temperature is caused as a Pharmacology/Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical secondary consequence of infection and disease. These Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus, conditions of Anambra State, Nigeria. The animals were maintained in proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF) which standard animal conditions and were allowed free access stimulate the central production of the inducible enzyme to food and water ad libitum. cyclooxygenase Acute toxicity trigger the (COX)2 enhanced and formation subsequently, the production of prostaglandin of the E series (Matsumura, The acute toxicity studies was done using 1990). These prostaglandins activate thermoregulatory Lorke’s method (Lorke, 1983). The study was done in neurons of the hypothalamic area to elevate body two phases. The first phase comprise of nine mice that temperature. disease were grouped into three groups of three animals each and progression through tissue catabolism and dehydration. were given 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract (p.o). Most synthetic agents targeting COX-2 have been The mice were monitored for obvious signs and High fever contributed to associated with toxic effects on the hepatic cells, glomeruli, cortex of brain and heart muscles. A natural remedy with reduced or no toxicity is therefore desirable. Table 1: Result of Phytochemical Screening of R. longipedicellata This study aimed at evaluation of the antipyretic Secondary Metabolites Presence or absence of the metabolites (+,-) potentials of the methanol extract of the rootbark of Alkaloids + R. longipedicellata. Tannins Plant Collection and Identification Flavonoids + The rootbark of R. longipedicellata was collected Saponins + from Echialike in Ikwo Local Government Area of Steroids Ebonyi State, Nigeria in January, 2012 and was 193 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195 Anowi et al.,2013 Table 2: Antipyretic Activity of R. longipedicellata Treatment Rectal Temperature in oC at various times (h) Dose (mg/kg) -18 0 1 2 3 4 Control 10 ml/kg 37.3+0.4 39.7+0.2 39.6+0.2 39.5+0.2 39.3+0.2 39.3+0.2 Extract 300 37.5+0.3 40.2+0.2 40.0+0.3 39.8+0.4 *39.5+0.4 *39.1+0.3 Extract 600 37.7+0.3 40.1+0.2 *38.0+0.2 *37.6+0.2 *38.8+0.4 *38.2+0.4 Paraceutamol 150 37.5+0.2 40.5+0.3 *38.9+0.1 *38.5+0.2 *37.7+0.2 *37.1+0.2 Values are expressed as mean + SEM; n = 6; * p<0.05 compared with 0 h of the same group symptoms of toxicity and mortality 24 h postadministration. For the second phase, four mice were RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The result of the phytochemical screening grouped into four groups of one animal each and were revealed given 1500, 2500, 3500 and 5000 mg/kg (p.o) of the Flavonoids, Saponins, Terpenoids (Table 1). These extract and were observed for another 24 h post phytocompounds have been reported to have good administration. antipyretic activities (Al-said et al., 1990; Mossa et al., Anti-pyretic Activity-Brewer’s yeast induced hyperexia method the presence of Alkaloids, Glycosides, 1991; Singh et al., 2000). No death or signs of obvious acute toxicity was Twenty albino rats of either sexes were divided observed at dose up to 5000 mg/kg an indication of into four groups of five animals in each group. The likely safety of this extract. The antipyretic activity normal body temperature of each rat was measured exhibited by the methanol extract is dose and time rectally at one hour interval for seven hours. The dependent. The inhibition produced by the extract at antipyretic activities of the extract were evaluated using 600 mg/kg was comparable to that of paracetamol at the method described by (Pendota et al., 2009). 150 mg/kg as both showed significant (p<0.05) Hyperthermia was induced in all the four groups by antipyretic activity from 1 h to 4 h (Table 2). At subcutaneous injection of 20% brewer’s yeast (w/v) 300 mg/kg, the extract showed significant (p<0.05) suspended in 0.5% (w/v) methyl cellulose solution. After antipyretic activity at 3 and 4 h. 18 hrs of yeast injection, the vehicle (5% tween 80), Increased synthesis of prostaglandins have been standard drug (paracetamol 150 mg/kg) and the extract reported as mechanism of yeast induced pyrexia (300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) were orally administered to (Al-Ghamdi, 2001). The anti-pyretic activity of the different groups respectively. Rectal temperature was extract may have been mediated through inhibition of recorded using clinical thermometer at 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 and COX-2 thus reduction of prostaglandin E2 concentration 4 h after drugs administration. or by bosting production of body’s own antipyretic Statistical Analysis substances like vasopressin and glucocorticoids. The result was presented as mean + SEM. The data was analysed for statistical significance by one-way ANOVA test using SPSS 16.0; P values < 0.05 were considered significant. CONCLUSION The present study shows that the root of Ritchiea longipecellata has a lot of potential as antipyretic agent. These observed activities appear to justify the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant. Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195 194 Anowi et al.,2013 REFERENCES Mossa JS, Tariq M, Mohsin A, Ageel AM, Al-yahya MA, Al-said MS, Rafatullah S. 1991. Pharmacological studies on aerial parts of Calotropis procera. Am l chin med; 19(3-4): 223-231. 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A n t i- i n f l a m m a t o r y antipyretic activities of the ana lge s ic aqueous extract and of Hippobromus pauciflorus (L.f) Radlk leaves in male Wister rats. Afr j Biotechnol; 8: 2036-2041. Submit your articles online at www.plantsciences.info       Advantages Easy online submission Complete Peer review Affordable Charges Quick processing Extensive indexing You retain your copyright submit@plantsciences.info www.plantsciences.info/Submit.php. 195 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195