CHEMICAL SCREENING AND ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF THE BARKS OF TRUNK OF PICRALIMA NITIDA STAPF (APOCYNACEAE) IN ALBINOS MICE

Ngaïssona P.*, Etou Ossibi A.W, Nkounkou Loumpangou C, Bassoueka D.J, Gouollaly Tsiba, Namkona F.A., Koane J.N, Syssa-MagaléJ.L and Ouamba J.M 

ABSTRACT

Picralima nitida (Stapf) Th. and H. Dur. (Apocynaceae) is a plant of the Central African Pharmacopoeia that the barks of trunk are widely used in traditional medicine for several diseases and convulsive seizures. The main objective of this study was to assess the anticonvulsant effects of the aqueous extract of the barks of trunk of this plant. As a preliminary, a chemical screening by reactions in tube and a study of acute toxicity in mice according to OECD, (2001) were carried out. The anticonvulsant activity of the aqueous extract in the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg was estimated against the convulsions induced by strychnine (3 mg/kg, i.p). Preliminary phytochemical analysis showed the following major chemical families: alkaloids, gallic tannins, triterpenes and sterols, flavonoids, catechic tannins and saponins. This study also reveals that the aqueous extract of Picralima nitida Stapf is non-toxic orally in mice. The aqueous extract at a dose of 500 mg / kg body weight had a significant effect on the convulsion induced by strychnine. The results indicate the aqueous extract of the bark of the trunk of Picralima nitida Stapf appear to possess anticonvulsant properties similar to the reference molecule diazepam (Valium®).

Keywords: Picralima nitida Stapf, secondary metabolites, acute toxicity, anticonvulsant, spontaneous locomotor.