Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the

Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae)

Keywords:
Ritchiea longipedicellata, brewers yeast, rectal thermometer and
paracetamol.
ABSTRACT:

Purpose-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was claimed to have anti pyretic,
analgesic and antimicrobial properties. The people of Idemili area in Anambra State of
Nigeria use the decoction of it to treat wounds, running stomach, aches and pains as
well as fever. It is to this backdrop that this investigation was carried out to ascertain
the veracity of the claim.

Methodology-The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata was collected and dried at
ambient temperature. It was pulverized into powder. 500 gm of the powdered drug
was placed into a two litre beaker containing one litre of methanol. It was allowed to
stand with occasional shaking for 48 h. The content was filtered and the filtrate was
concentrated using rotary evaporator. The extract contains the following secondary
metabolites-alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and glycosides. The antipyretic
activity was investigated using brewers yeast to induce pyrexia.

Result -The root of Ritchiea longipedicellata exhibited significant (p<0.05) antipyretic
effect at 600 mg/kg from 1 h to 4 h and at 3 h to 4 h at 300 mg/kg compared with the
control.

Conclusion-The claim of Idemili people of Anambra State Nigeria on the use of
Ritchiea longipedicellata appears to be obvious in line with the results of the
investigation.
192-195 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 2

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Journal of Research in
Plant Sciences
An International Scientific
Research Journal
Authors:
Chinedu Fred Anowi
1
,

Ezugwu CO
2
, Ilodigwe EE
3
,
Ajaghaku DL
4
.

Institution:
1.Department of
Pharmacognosy and
Traditional Medicine,
Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Awka.

2.Department of
Pharmacognosy and
Traditional Medicine,
Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Awka.


3. Department of
Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Awka.


4.Department of
Pharmacology and
Toxicology, Faculty of
Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Awka.




Corresponding author:
Chinedu Fred Anowi




Web Address:
http://plantsciences.info
documents/PS0048.pdf.


Dates:
Received: 26 Dec 2012 Accepted: 10 Jan 2013 Published: 20 Apr 2013
Article Citation:
Chinedu Fred Anowi, Ezugwu CO, Ilodigwe EE, Ajaghaku DL.
Preliminary Phytochemical Studies and Evaluation of Antipyretic Property of the
Methanol Extract of the Rootbark of Ritchiea longipedicellata Gilg (capparidaceae)
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195
Original Research
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INTRODUCTION
The role of medicinal plants in primary
healthcare delivering system have long been established
(Sofowora, 1982). Population growth, inaccessibility and
inadequate supply of drugs, cost, side effects and
resistance to currently used drugs, have encouraged the
wide use of natural products as sources of medicines. In
south eastern Nigeria, R. longipedicellata have been
employed in the treatment of many disease conditions.
The root and leaves when chewed, relieve pain, cold,
and upper respiratory tract infections. It is as well use for
the treatment of typhoid fever, malaria and general
illness.
Normal body temperature is regulated by
complex mechanisms involving the coordination of
autonomic, endocrine and behavioral responses (Dalal
and Zhukovsky, 2006). Pyrexia or fever which is an
elevation of normal body temperature is caused as a
secondary consequence of infection and disease. These
conditions trigger the enhanced formation of
proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) which
stimulate the central production of the inducible enzyme
cyclooxygenase (COX)2 and subsequently, the
production of prostaglandin of the E series (Matsumura,
1990). These prostaglandins activate thermoregulatory
neurons of the hypothalamic area to elevate body
temperature. High fever contributed to disease
progression through tissue catabolism and dehydration.
Most synthetic agents targeting COX-2 have been
associated with toxic effects on the hepatic cells,
glomeruli, cortex of brain and heart muscles. A natural
remedy with reduced or no toxicity is therefore desirable.
This study aimed at evaluation of the antipyretic
potentials of the methanol extract of the rootbark of
R. longipedicellata.
Plant Collection and Identification
The rootbark of R. longipedicellata was collected
from Echialike in Ikwo Local Government Area of
Ebonyi State, Nigeria in January, 2012 and was
identified by a Taxanomist Mr. Alfred Ozioko of
Bioresource Development and Conservation Project,
Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It was subsequently
cleaned, air dried and pulverized.
Extraction
About 500 g of powdered dried rootbark was
cold macerated in 1 L of methanol for 48 h with
occasional agitations. The extract was subsequent filtered
and concentrated in vaccuo at 40C using rotary
evaporator.
Phytochemical Analysis
The phytochemical analysis of the extract was
done using the standard methods (Odebiyi and Sofowora,
1978; Treas and Evans, 1983).
Experimental animals
Adult albino mice 25-30 g and rats 150 -180 g of
both sex were obtained from the Department of
Pharmacology/Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Agulu Campus,
Anambra State, Nigeria. The animals were maintained in
standard animal conditions and were allowed free access
to food and water ad libitum.
Acute toxicity
The acute toxicity studies was done using
Lorkes method (Lorke, 1983). The study was done in
two phases. The first phase comprise of nine mice that
were grouped into three groups of three animals each and
were given 10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg of the extract (p.o).
The mice were monitored for obvious signs and
Anowi et al.,2013
193 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195
Table 1: Result of Phytochemical Screening of
R. longipedicellata
Secondary Metabolites Presence or absence of the
metabolites (+,-)
Alkaloids +
Tannins -
Flavonoids +
Saponins +
Steroids -
symptoms of toxicity and mortality 24 h post-
administration. For the second phase, four mice were
grouped into four groups of one animal each and were
given 1500, 2500, 3500 and 5000 mg/kg (p.o) of the
extract and were observed for another 24 h post
administration.
Anti-pyretic Activity-Brewers yeast induced
hyperexia method
Twenty albino rats of either sexes were divided
into four groups of five animals in each group. The
normal body temperature of each rat was measured
rectally at one hour interval for seven hours. The
antipyretic activities of the extract were evaluated using
the method described by (Pendota et al., 2009).
Hyperthermia was induced in all the four groups by
subcutaneous injection of 20% brewers yeast (w/v)
suspended in 0.5% (w/v) methyl cellulose solution. After
18 hrs of yeast injection, the vehicle (5% tween 80),
standard drug (paracetamol 150 mg/kg) and the extract
(300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg) were orally administered to
different groups respectively. Rectal temperature was
recorded using clinical thermometer at 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 and
4 h after drugs administration.
Statistical Analysis
The result was presented as mean + SEM. The
data was analysed for statistical significance by one-way
ANOVA test using SPSS 16.0; P values < 0.05 were
considered significant.


RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The result of the phytochemical screening
revealed the presence of Alkaloids, Glycosides,
Flavonoids, Saponins, Terpenoids (Table 1). These
phytocompounds have been reported to have good
antipyretic activities (Al-said et al., 1990; Mossa et al.,
1991; Singh et al., 2000).
No death or signs of obvious acute toxicity was
observed at dose up to 5000 mg/kg an indication of
likely safety of this extract. The antipyretic activity
exhibited by the methanol extract is dose and time
dependent. The inhibition produced by the extract at
600 mg/kg was comparable to that of paracetamol at
150 mg/kg as both showed significant (p<0.05)
antipyretic activity from 1 h to 4 h (Table 2). At
300 mg/kg, the extract showed significant (p<0.05)
antipyretic activity at 3 and 4 h.
Increased synthesis of prostaglandins have been
reported as mechanism of yeast induced pyrexia
(Al-Ghamdi, 2001). The anti-pyretic activity of the
extract may have been mediated through inhibition of
COX-2 thus reduction of prostaglandin E
2
concentration
or by bosting production of bodys own antipyretic
substances like vasopressin and glucocorticoids.

CONCLUSION
The present study shows that the root of
Ritchiea longipecellata has a lot of potential as
antipyretic agent. These observed activities appear to
justify the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant.
Anowi et al.,2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195 194
Table 2: Antipyretic Activity of R. longipedicellata
Treatment Dose Rectal Temperature in
o
C at various times (h)
(mg/kg) -18 0 1 2 3 4
Control 10 ml/kg 37.3+0.4 39.7+0.2 39.6+0.2 39.5+0.2 39.3+0.2 39.3+0.2
Extract 300 37.5+0.3 40.2+0.2 40.0+0.3 39.8+0.4 *39.5+0.4 *39.1+0.3
Extract 600 37.7+0.3 40.1+0.2 *38.0+0.2 *37.6+0.2 *38.8+0.4 *38.2+0.4
Paraceutamol 150 37.5+0.2 40.5+0.3 *38.9+0.1 *38.5+0.2 *37.7+0.2 *37.1+0.2
Values are expressed as mean + SEM; n = 6; * p<0.05 compared with 0 h of the same group


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Anowi et al.,2013
195 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(2): 192-195
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