PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTICONVULSANT STUDIES ON THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF COMBRETUM HYPOPILINUM DIELS (COMBRETACEAE)

Abstract

Combretum hypopilinum is used by traditional medicine practitioners for the treatment of epilepsy, hepatic disorder,
snake bites, relief of pains and headache. This study was aimed at investigating the anticonvulsant potentials in
chicks and mice and to isolate compound(s) present in the methanol leaf extract (MLE) of Combretum hypopilinum.
Preliminary phytochemical screening and oral median lethal dose (LD50) were conducted using standard methods.
Anticonvulsant studies were conducted using maximal electroshock test (MEST) in chicks and pentylenetetrazole
induced-seizure (PTZ) in mice. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of terpenoids, steroids,
carbohydrates, cardiac glycoside, saponins, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids. The column chromatographic analysis
of the n-hexane fraction from the MLE led to the isolation of Lupeol which was characterized using chemical tests
and spectroscopy analysis which include; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy and by
comparison with data from literature. The LD50 of the extract was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract
at doses 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg did not exhibit significant effect on mean recovery time in MEST as none of the
chicks were protected. However, the MLE at the dose of 500 mg/kg produced a significant (p<0.05) increase in the
mean onset of seizures induced by PTZ, and dose independently protected the mice. In conclusion, the result of the
study suggests that the MLE of Combretum hypopilinum contains phytochemical constituents with potential
anticonvulsant activity and provides scientific rationale for the ethno-medicinal use of Combretum hypopilinum in
the management of epilepsy.