P a g e | 448 eISSN: 2231-0541 CAS CODEN: PHARN8 An ELSEVIER Covered Journal PHARMANEST An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences Volume 4|Issue 3|May-June 2013|Pages 448-452 Original Research Article ANTI-EMETIC ACTIVITY OF ROOT EXTRACT OF ACALYPHA ORNATA HOCHST a a b SALMAN AHMED*, b PATRRICIA AKPOMEDAYE ONOCHA Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan Natural products/Medicinal Chemistry Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria Author for Correspondence: salmancr2004@gmail.com Received: 16-05-2013 Revised: 21-05-2013 Accepted: 03-06-2013 Available online: 01-07-2013 ABSTRACT The current study was designed to explore the anti-emetic effect of the methanolic extract of Acalypha ornata Hochst., roots using chick emesis model. Emesis was induced by the oral administration of copper sulfate to male chicks. Acalypha ornata root extract (150 mg/kg orally) showed anti-emetic effect and compared with reference drug chlorpromazine. Key words: Anti-emetic; Acalypha ornata ; chick emesis model ; natural anti-emetics. PHARMANEST - An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences | | Volume 4 Issue 3 May-June 2013 Available online: www.pharmanest.net P a g e | 449 INTRODUCTION Acalypha is the fourth largest genus of showed Euphorbiaceae, comprises of fast growing, Copper sulfate induced chick emesis model evergreen shrubs, trees and annuals from is very simple and easy way to evaluate tropical to subtropical regions particularly natural in the tropics of Africa, America and Asia. A terrestrial12-14 and large proportion of genus Acalypha is weed products demonstrated while plants1,2. activity by using chick emesis model. The Acalypha ornate Hochst., is used as an anti-emetic potential of aerial parts of ornamental garden plant as well as a Acalypha ornata16 has already studied by medicinal plant3,4 . Boiled water extract of using chick emesis model. The presented this plant is used to treat skin infections in study is further attempting to evaluate the children5. Plant ash is rubbed on the chest anti-emetic effect of their roots using the to treat pain. Leaves are used for the relief same model. others are ornamental of postpartum pain7, hemorrhoids, leprosy slight molluscicidal anti-emetics. has activity6. Number marine15 of natural antiemetic MATERIALS AND METHODS and scabies6. Powdered leaves together with powdered flowers of Psorospermum Collection febrifugum Spach., are sprinkled identification circumcision wounds6. The smoke of burnt on of Plant material and stem bark is inhaled to treat epilepsy 8. An The roots of Acalypha ornata Hochst., were infusion of aerial parts is applied locally to collected from the forest of Ibadan, Nigeria an infected navel in newborn babies. Root and compared with the already deposited decoction taken as a laxative, to cure voucher specimen No. 107320. hemorrhoids, menstrual6 and postpartum Preparation of the plant extracts pain7. It is used as wash to treat leprosy, scabies6 and applied for local healing in nervous discomfort of feet9. flavonoids and phenols constituents leaf Leaves contain separately in methanol for a week and the The principal extracts were condensed to dryness by are evaporation using a rotary evaporator at isopulegly acetate, valenchi, vividiflorene, α 40°C. The concentrated methanol extract –muurolene, 2-hexyne, 6-methyl – α – was used for bioassay. ionone, of 10. Root (2 kg ) of Acalypha ornata was soaked γ-elemene, essential (E) oil -2-methyl-4Animals undecene, ledol, cis-3-hexynyl benzoate, 2methyl -1- octadecene, apiole, oplopanone and γ-endesmol11. ornata possess Leaves of Young male chicks, 4 days of age, weighing Acalypha antimicrobial from 32-52 g were taken from local market. and After 24 hrs fasting, the antiemetic activity antioxidant activity5. Leaf and root extracts was evaluated. All chicks were kept under PHARMANEST - An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences | | Volume 4 Issue 3 May-June 2013 Available online: www.pharmanest.net P a g e | 450 B = Frequency of retching in test groups laboratory conditions at room temperature with 12h light and dark cycles and were STATISTICAL ANALYSIS allowed free access to food and water. Permission studies and were approval obtained from from All data were expressed as the mean  S. E. animal Board of M. The data were analyzed by using Advanced Studies and Research, University unpaired Student’s t-test and P < 0.05, of Karachi [BASR. Res. No.09 (46) -2006]. P < 0.01 vs. control shows significant and highly significant values respectively. Drugs and Chemicals Copper sulfate (Scharlau Chemie RESULTS AND DISCUSSION S.A. Barcelona, Spain), chlorpromazine (ICN, The results of anti-emetic effect of Acalypha USA), Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); methanol ornate Hochst., roots are shown in the and polyoxyethylene Sorbitan monooleate table.1. The methanol extract of Acalypha (Tween 80) (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) ornata showed 83.54 % and standard drug was used in the experiment. chlorpromazine 32.99 % inhibition of retches. The observed number of retches ANTI-EMETIC ACTIVITY was control (69.28), chlorpromazine (46.42) The anti-emetic activity was determined by and Acalypha ornate Hochst., root extract following the protocols of Akita et al., (11.40) (fig.1.). The methanol extract of 199817. Each chick was set aside in a large Acalypha ornata Hochst., roots showed beaker significant ( p < 0.01) anti-emetic effect in for 10 minutes to stabilize. were young chicks. The protective effect of the dissolved in 0.9 % saline containing 5 % extracts against copper sulfate induced DMSO and 1 % tween 80 and administered retching in young chicks is possible by abdominally at a dose of 150 mg/kg B.w., peripheral action as the oral copper sulfate to the test animal. After 10 minutes copper induces sulfate through excitation of visceral afferent nerve Chlorpromazine was and the extract administered orally at 50 emesis of the by GIT. peripheral It has action mg/kg B.w., to each cheek, then the fibers also been number of retches was observed during the established that the peripheral 5-HT3, 5-HT4 next 10 minutes. or NK1 receptors are involved in emesis18. Therefore, it may be said that the methanol The percent inhibition was calculated by extract of Acalypha ornata Hochst., root the following formula: produced anti-emetic activity by receptor antagonism and has peripheral anti-emetic Inhibition (%) = [(A-B)/A] x 100 action. Anti-emetic activity by using copper Where A = Frequency of retching in the sulfate control group receptors antagonism18. Therefore it may be proposed 5-HT3, 5-HT4 or NK1 said that the extract was able to effectively PHARMANEST - An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences | | Volume 4 Issue 3 May-June 2013 Available online: www.pharmanest.net P a g e | 451 Prevent its effect and has a peripheral anti-emetic action. Table .1.The anti-emetic effect of Acalypha ornata root extract Treatments Number of Retches (Mean ± SEM) 69.28  4.28 Control (Normal saline solution) %Inhibition of retches 46.42 3.40* CPZ 11.4  3.12 ** AOR --- 32.99 83.54 CPZ = Chlorpromazine; AOR = Acalypha ornata roots extract; N=6; Dose=150 mg/kg orally ; SEM= Standard Error of Mean; *P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01 Vs. control shows significant and highly significant values using student’s t-test. Fig.1.The anti-emetic effect of Acalypha ornata root extract PHARMANEST - An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences | | Volume 4 Issue 3 May-June 2013 Available online: www.pharmanest.net P a g e | 452 REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Riley HP. Families of flowering plants of Southern Africa, University of Kentucky Press, U.S.A., 1963. 73 p. Ogundaini AO. From greens into medicine: Taking a lead from nature. Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Inaugural Lecture Series, 2005. 176:13 p. Sofowora A. 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PHARMANEST - An International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences | | Volume 4 Issue 3 May-June 2013 Available online: www.pharmanest.net