Comparative Study of Antimicrobial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Activities of Different Parts from Pterocarpus Santalinoides l’Her. Ex. DC (Fabaceae)

Aims. Pterocarpus santalinoides is used in Beninese folk medicine for treatment of gastroenteritis. This study aims to compare the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcoholic extracts of the leaves, trunk bark, and root. Materials and Methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the broth microdilution method on 06 bacterial strains including 03 wild-type strains (Escherichia. coli 0157H, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus sp.) and 03 reference strains (E. coli ATCC 25922, S. aureus ATCC 29213, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853), whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was performed by the carrageenan-induced paw edema method on rats. The DPPH-free radical scavenging was used to determine the antioxidant activity. Results. The MICs of the leaf extracts varied from 6.25 to 25 mg/mL for all strains. The MICs of the stem bark extracts were 6.5 to 25 μg/mL for five strains (E. coli 0157H, S. aureus ATCC 25922, Salmonella sp., E. coli ATCC 25922, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) and 3.125 mg/mL for S. aureus. Concerning the root extracts, the MICs varied from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. The best anti-inflammatory power was obtained with the stem bark extract with the percentages of inhibition of 36.09%, 38.98%, and 39.50%. The DPPH test showed that the hydroethanolic extract of the 03 parts of P. santalinoides has a moderate antiradical power compared to the control which was quercetin. Conclusion. In view of the different pharmacological activity recorded, the extract of the leaves should be recommended to treat patients suffering from gastroenteriditis.

Aqueous extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides DC stem bark prevents L-NAME-induced hypertension in rat

Background: Pterocarpus santalinoides stem bark is commonly used in Cameroonian medicine to treat many diseases including hypertension. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate preventive effects of aqueous extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides (AEPS) stem bark on NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (LNAME)-induced hypertension in rat. Methods: Normotensive rats received L-NAME (25 mg/kg intraperitoneally) concomitantly with AEPS (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) or captopril (20 mg/kg) orally during 3 weeks. At the end of experimental period, arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded by invasive method. After sacrifice, blood, aorta and heart were harvested for biochemical analysis on homogenate. Results: Intraperitoneal injection of L-NAME induced in rat a significant increase (p < 0.001; p < 0.01; p < 0.05) of blood pressure, heart rate, malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, hepatic and renal markers functions. L-NAME also decreased significantly (p < 0.001; p < 0.01; p < 0.05) the levels of HDL-cholesterol, nitrites, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as compared to control rats. The AEPS prevented significantly the increase (p < 0.001) of hemodynamic parameters induced by L-NAME and various modifications of biochemical parameters (lipid profile, hepatic and renal markers functions) and oxidative stress markers evaluated. Conclusion: This study shows that the aqueous extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides prevents hypertension, dyslipidemia and oxidative stress induced by L-NAME in rat by attenuating endothelial dysfunction, liver and kidney’s damages

Hepatoprotective effects of methanol leaf extract of pterocarpus santalinoides DC on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in Albino rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The effects of methanol leaf extract of Pterocarpus santalinoides DC was investigated on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced sub-acute liver damage (hepatotoxicity) in albino rats. Forty two adultmale albino ratswere used for the study, 12 for the acute toxicity study and 30 for the sub-acute hepatotoxicity study. The 30 rats used for the sub-acute hepatotoxicity study were randomly assigned into six groups (A – F) of 5 rats each as follows: Group A – APAP+distilledwater placebo (negative control),Groups B,CandD–APAP+50, 250, and 500 mg/kg body weight (bw) Pterocarpus santalinoides methanol extract (PSME) respectively, Group E – APAP + 100 mg/kg bw silymarin (positive control), and Group F – distilled water placebo only (normal control). The APAP was given at 3000 mg/kg bw orally at the beginning of the study (day 0) and after every 72 hours for 12 days, while treatment with PSME and silymarin was done orally twice daily for 15 days. Phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity evaluation followed standard procedures. Assay of serum enzymes, total serum protein, albumin, globulin, total cholesterol and bilirubin, and liver weight percentage of body weight of the rats was done at the end of the 15-day experimental period following standard procedures. The PSME had high levels of tannins, moderate levels of flavonoids, saponins, carbohydrates and reducing sugars, and low levels of alkaloids. The LD was above 5000 mg/kg bw. Treatment with PSME at the dose of 500 mg/kg bw significantly lowered (P < 0.05) serum ALT, AST, and ALP activities, cholesterol and bilirubin levels, and liver weight percentage of body weight when compared to the negative control,while treatment at the dose of 250mg/kg bw only led to significantly lower (P<0.05) serum levels of cholesterol and bilirubin when compared to the negative control. It was concluded that treatment of acetaminophen-induced sub-acute hepatotoxicity in albino rats with 500 mg/kg bw PSME significantly protected the hepatocellular integrity and ameliorated impaired hepatic excretory function.

Antibacterial and Phytochemical Properties of Crude Leaf Extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam., Pterocarpus santalinoides L’Herit DC and Ceiba pentandra L. on Some Clinical Bacterial Isolates in Nigeria

Aims: The study was carried out to determine the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of fresh leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam., Pterocarpus santalinoides L’Herit DC and Ceiba pentandra L. on bacterial isolates; Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methodology: The plant leaves were dried, pulverized and phytochemical tests were done according to standard laboratory procedure. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were obtained from 20 g of the of the ground leaves. Antibacterial assay was carried out with Disc diffusion method on seven concentrations of the extracts ;100,50,25,12.5, 6.25,3.125,1.5625 mg/ml and compared with standard antibiotics. Isolated bacterial pathogens; Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.0 x 105 cfu /ml) were used as test organisms. Results: Alkaloids, steroidal aglycones, glycosides, proteins, carbohydrates, reducing sugars, tannins, saponins, vitamins A and E were present in all the plant samples. Flavonoids and cardiac glycosides were not detected in Pterocarpus santalinoides and Ceiba pentandra, respectively. Anthracene glycoside was absent in all samples. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera showed antibacterial activities against all the bacterial isolates at minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.125 mg/ml and 1.5625 mg/ml respectively. Pterocarpus santalinoides showed inhibitory activity only on Salmonella typhi at 3.125 mg/ml and Escherichia coli 1.5625 mg/ml MIC. Ceiba pentandra showed spectrum of antibacterial activity against all the bacterial isolates at 1.56 mg/ml MIC with exception of Salmonella typhi. E. coli was the most susceptible to the leaf extracts. Salmonella typhi was not sensitive to the leaf extracts of Ceiba pentandra, while Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not sensitive to the leaf extracts of Pterocarpus santalinoides. Conclusion: It can be concluded that both aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts had antibacterial activity against the test organism, thus justifying their use in folklore medicine.

Nutraceutical and Health Benefits of Two Underutilized Leafy Vegetables (Pterocarpus santalinoides and Napoleona imperialis)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and health implication of Pterocarpus santalinoides (Uturukpa) and Napoleona imperialis (Mkpodu) leaves. The vegetables were harvested from the forest in Udi Local Government area in Enugu State and identified at Department of Agronomy, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria. The vegetables were trimmed and washed with deionized water and drained. The vegetables were ground using hammer mill into paste separately and coded as sample A (Pterocarpus santalinoides) and sample B (Napoleona imperialis). Both samples were analyzed in the laboratory for proximate, vitamins, minerals, anti-nutrients and phytochemicals. The results were analyzed statistically using mean and standard deviation. The result showed that the proximate composition (on wet wt. basis) of sample A and B were protein 1.06 and 5.27%, fat 0.98 and 0.71%, fibre 0.90 and 1.01%, ash 2.73 and 1.27% and carbohydrate 30.63 and 23.54% respectively. The vitamin constituents were beta carotene 360.00 and 360.00 µg/100 g, vitamin C 5.20 and 7.13 mg/100 g and vitamin E 2.80 and 1.45 mg/100 g for sample A and B respectively. The result of the minerals were iron 3.49 and 1.40 mg/100 g, zinc 0.92 and 2.10 mg/100 g, calcium 36.00 and 25.60 mg/100 g, magnesium 20.01 and 25.20 mg/100 g and potassium 11.27 and 70.92 mg/100 g for sample A and B respectively. The result of the pyhtochemicals revealed that both leaves contained an appreciable amount of phytochemicals which are component of herbs use for ethnomedicine. The anti-nutrients in sample A and B were cyanide 0.48 and 0.94%, oxalate 1.08 and 3.87% and phytate 0.25 and 6.01% respectively. The high protein, fibre and mineral content of Napoleona imperialis is of interest, hence these lesser known vegetables are recommended due to its high nutritional content and health benefit.