PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND ACUTE TOXICITY STUDY OF THE LEAVES OF ZIZIPHUS ABYSSINICA HOCHST. EX A. RICH. (RHAMNACEAE)
Abstract
Ziziphus abyssinica belongs to the family Rhamnaceae and is traditionally used in the treatment of pneumonia, tonsillitis, Newcastle disease, snake bite, burns, wounds, tachycardia, pectoral pain, migraines and as pain-killers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the phytochemical, physicochemical analysis and safety margin of Z. abyssinica leaf with the hope of assisting in its standardization for quality, purity and safety. The powdered sample of the leaves was extracted with aqueous and methanol and evaluated for physicochemical parameters of the plant. The extracts were subjected to qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity study. Phytochemical screening revealed the presences of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, tannins, glycosides, carbohydrates, anthraquinones and triterpenes in both aqueous and methanol extract. However, steroids were absent; the quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that flavonoids (134.0 mg/g) were the highest phytochemicals detected in the leaf while the lowest were saponins (6.0 mg/g). The physicochemical parameters evaluated include: moisture content (7.70%), total ash (10.10%), acid insoluble (2.10%), water soluble (7.34%), water extractive value (16.33%) and ethanol extractive value (13.0%). LD50 of both extracts was above 5000 mg/kg and did not cause mortality in all the tested rats. The results of this finding may be useful in laying down standards and for the compilation of a suitable monograph of Z. abyssinica
References
Adesegun, S. A., Celestina, I. O. and Coker, H. A. (2016). Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Stem Bark Extract and Fractions of Petersianthus macrocarpus. Pharmacognosy Research 8(3): 181 –185.
Ajazuddin, N. and Shailendra, S. (2010). Evaluation of Physicochemical and Phytochemical
Properties of Safoof-E-sana, a Unani polyherbal Formulation. Journal of Pharmacognosy Research 2(5): 318-322.
Aslam, I. and Afridi, M.S.K. (2018). Pharmacognostic characterization of Beaumontia grandiflra (Roxb.) Wall. Leaf for taxonomic identifiation for quality control of a drug.
Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 8, 53–59.
Ayeni, E.A., Ahmed, A., Ibrahim, G. and Vallada, A. (2017). Pharmacognostic evaluation of Daucus carota Linn. Leaf (Apiaceae). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry; 6(5): 2400-2405.
Beentje, H.J. (1994). Kenya trees, shrubs and lianas. National museums of Kenya, 722.
Bein, E. (1996). Useful trees and shrubs in Eritrea. Regional Soil Conservation Unit (RSCU), Nairobi, Kenya. 722
Boakye-Gyasi, E., Isaac T.H., Wonder, K.M.A., Elvis O.A. and Eric W. (2017). Hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst Ex A. Rich (Rhamnaceae) exhibits anti-nociceptive effects in murine models. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 17(231): 1-12. DOI 10.1186/s12906-017-1750-z
Bohm, B.A and Kocipal-abyazan, R. (1994). Flavonoids and Condensed tannins from leaves of Vaccinum vaticulatum and V. calycinium, 48: 458-463.
Burkill, H.M. (1985). The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Vol. 4. Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens. http://plants.jstor.org/stable/10.5555/al.ap.upwta.4_778. Assessed 17 Feb 2018.
Burkill, H.M. (2000). Useful plants of west tropical Africa. 2nd ed. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens. 981
Chanda, S. (2014). Importance of pharmacognostic study of medicinal plants: an overview.
Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2: 69–73.
Cushnie, T. P. T., Cushnie, T.B and Lamb, A.J (2014). “Alkaloids: an overview of their
antibacterial, antibiotic-enhancing and antivirulence activities,” International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 44(5): 377–386.
Erdman, JW (2007). Flavonoid and Heart Health (2005): Proceedings of
the ILSI North America Flavonoid workshop, May 31 – June 1. Journal of Nutrition, 137(3): 718s-737s.
Evans, W.C. (2009). Trease and Evans pharmocognosy. 16th edition. Elselviers Ltd., UK,
Pp.560-562, 568-570.
Harborne, J.B. (2005). Phytochemical Methods, Chapman and Hall limited. London, 49 – 68.
Haslam, E. (1996). “Natural polyphenols (vegetable tannins) as drugs: possible modes of
action,” Journal of Natural Products, 59(2): 205–215.
Hughes, E.R. (1977). Human iron metabolism. In: Sigel H, Ed. Metals ions in biological systems. Iron in model and natural compounds. New York: Marcel Dekker.
Jeremiah, C., Katsayal, U.A., Nuhu, A. and Nuhu, H.D. (2019). Pharmacognostic and elemental analysis of the leaves of Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich). Tiegh. Research Journal of Pharmacognosy. 6(1): 11 -18. DOI: 10.22127/rjp.2018.80366
Jonathan, G. and Tom, J. M. (2008). Secondary Metabolites and the higher Classification of
Angiosperms. Dept of Botany, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Nordic Journal of Botany (Impact Factor: 0.6). 03/2008; 3(1):5 - 34. DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-
1983.tb01442.x
Kashiwada, Y., Huang, L., Kilkuskie, R.E., Bodner, A.J and Lee, K.H (1992). “New
Hexahydroxydiphenyl Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors of HIV replication in H9
lymphocytes,” Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2(3): 235–238.
Kela, S.L., Ogunsusi, R., Ogbogu, V. and Nwude, N. (1988). Screening of some Nigerian plants for molluscicidal activity. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop.; 42:195–202.
Khanbabaee, K. and van Ree, T (2001). “Tannins: Classifiation and Defiition,” Natural Product Reports, 18(6): 641–649.
Kittakoop, P., Mahidol, C and Ruchirawat, S (2014). “Alkaloids as important scafflds in
therapeutic Drugs for the Treatments of Cancer, Tuberculosis and Smoking cessation,” Current Topics inMedicinal Chemistry, 14(2): 239–252.
Lokhande, R., Singare, P., Andhele, M. and Acharya, R. (2010). Study of some Indian medicinal plants by application of INAA and AAS techniques. Natural Science; 2(1): 26-32.
Lorke, D. (1983). A New Approach to Practical Acute Toxicity Testing. Arch Toxicol; 5: 275-287.
Maikai, V. A., Nok, A. J., Alawa, C. B. I. and Adaudi, A. O. (2008). The effect of Ximenia
americana in mice experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Intern. J.
Biosci. 2(1): 48-52.
Muthaura, C., Keriko, J., Mutai, C., Yenesew, A., Gathirwa, J., Irungu, B.N, et al. (2015).Antiplasmodial potential of traditional phytotherapy of some remedies used in treatment of malaria in Meru–Tharaka Nithi County of Kenya. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 175:315–23.
Nyaberi, M.O., Onyango, C.A., Mathooko, F.M., Maina, J.M., Makobe, M. and Mwaura, F. (2010). Evaluation of phytochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial activity of edible fruit extracts of Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. Journal of Animal and Plant Science. 6: 623–629.
Obadoni, B.O and Ochuko (2001). Phytochemical studies and comparative efficacy of the crude extract of some haemostatic plants in Edo and Delta States.
Obidike, I. and Salawu, O. (2013). Screening of herbal medicines for potential toxicities;
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science; New insight in Toxicity and
Drug testing. Pub. Intech; Pp. 63-67.
Okello, S., Nyunja, R., Netondo, G.W. and Onyango, J.C. (2010). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Sabaots of mt. Elgon Kenya. Afri J Tradit Complement and Altern Med. 7:1 –10.
Olorunnisola, O. S., Bradley, G. and Afolayan, A. J. (2012). Acute and sub-chronic toxicity
studies of methanolic extract of Tulbaghia violacea rhizomes in Wistar rats. African
Journal of Biotechnology. 11(83): 14934-14940.
Oyedemi, S.O., Bradley, G., Afolayan, A.J. (2010). In vitro and in vivo Antioxidant activities of Aqueous extract of Strychnos henningsii Gilg. Afr. J. Pharm. Pharmacol., 4:70-78.
Parasuraman, S., Raveendran, R., Rajesh, N.G. and Nandhakumar, S. (2014). Sub-chronic
toxicological evaluation of cleistanthin A and cleistanthin B from the leaves of
Cleistanthus collinus (Roxb.). Toxicol. Rep. [In press] (DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2014.08.6).
Prasad, S. K., Laloo, D., Sahu, A. N., and Hemalatha, S. (2012). Cytomorphological and
physiochemical evaluations of Cryptocoryne spiralis (Retzius) Wydler. Journal of Herbs Spices and Medicinal Plant. 8: 304-307.
Qiu, S., Sun, H., Zhang, A.H. et al., (1997). “Natural Alkaloids: Basic Aspects, Biological roles, and Future Perspectives,” Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines., 12(6): 401–406.
Rajurkar, N.S and Damame, M.M. (1997). Elemental analysis of some herbal plants used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases by AAS and NAA. J Radioanalytical Nucl Chem. 219(1): 77-80.
Rivera, J.O., Loya, A.M. and Ceballos, R. (2013). Use of herbal medicines and implications for conventional drug therapy medical sciences. Altern Integ Med; 2: 130.
Saraf, A. and Samant, A. (2013). Evaluation of some minerals and trace elements in Achyranthe saspera Linn. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Science. 3(3): 229-233.
Sofowora, A., (2006). Medical plants and traditional medicine in Africa. (Rep. ed.). Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum books LTD; 2006. 150-153 p.
Sumitra, C. (2014). Importance of pharmacognostic study of medicinal plants: An overview. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2(5): 69-73.
Ugwah, M.O., Etuk, E.U., Bello, S.O., Aliero, A.A. and Ugwah-Oguejiofor, C.J. (2013). Comparative studies of anti-ulcerogenic activities of three Nigerian medicinal plants: a preliminary evaluation. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research. 7:490–495.
Ugwah-Oguejiofor, J.C., Alkali, I.Y., Ugwah, M.O. and Abubakar, K. (2013). Antidiarrhoeal potential of the aqueous root extract of Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich, Sch Acad J Pharm.; 2:419–23.
Usman, S.O., Agunu, A., Njinga, N.S., Oladipupo, A.F. and Olutayo, A.O. (2018). Pharmacognostic studies and antioxidant activity of the stem-bark of Entandrophragma utile Dawe & Sprague (Meliaceae). Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Development and Practices. 2(1): 59 – 67.
Wagate, CG, Mbaria JM, Gakuya DW, Nanyingi MO, Kareru PG, Njuguna A, et al. (2010). Screening of some Kenyan medicinal plants for antibacterial activity. Phytotherapy Research.; 24:150–3.
Ward, D., Shrestha, M.K. and Musli, I. (2006). Are invasive mistletoe killing Ziziphus spina-christi? Isreal Journal of Plant science, 54(2): 113-117.
World Health Organization WHO (2011). Quality Control Methods for Medicinal Plants. WHO, Geneva, Switzerland, Pp. 9-31.
Copyright (c) 2023 FUDMA JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
FUDMA Journal of Sciences
