Browsing by Author "Magaji, M.G."

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    Anticonvulsant Properties Of The Methanol Stem Bark Extract Of Acacia Albida Del.
    (Published by Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2010) Giwa, A; Danjuma, N.M; Saulawa, H.T; Zezi, A.U; Yaro, A.H; Magaji, M.G.
    Acacia albida (Mimosoideae) is used in traditional medicine for the management of epilepsy. The methanol stem bark extract of Acacia albida was studied for its anticonvulsant effects in mice and chicks. The test systems selected were the maximal electroshock test (MEST) in chicks, Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and Strychnine (STN) induced seizure tests in mice. The effect of the extract on diazepam induced sleep in mice and preliminary phytochemical screening were also conducted. The extract (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) significantly (p< 0.001) shortened onset of sleep compared to normal saline (control) from 4.8±0.2 to 2.2±0.3, 2.0±0.0 and 2.0±0.3, respectively. The methanol stem bark extract of Acacia albida also increased total sleeping time from 58.2±14.0 to 201.0±23.9, 111.4±16.1 and 89.6±22.5 at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The increase was significant (p< 0.001) at 50 mg/kg. Acacia albida stem bark extract at 200 mg/kg protected 50% of the mice against STN induced seizure with 63.3% survival rate. There was no protection against STN induced seizure at 50 and 100 mg/kg of the extract but a 16.3% and 33.3% protection against mortality was observed respectively. The extract was also able to delay, though insignificantly the onset of seizure at all the doses tested. In the PTZ induced seizure test, the extract did not protect the mice against seizure nor mortality but there was a significant (p< 0.05) delay in onset of seizure at 100 and 200 mg/kg. Similarly the extract of Acacia albida did not protect chicks against MEST. However there was a non significant dose dependent shortening of recovery time at the doses tested. Preliminary phytochemical studies of the stem bark extract of Acacia albida revealed the presence of tannins, saponin triterpenes and steroids. The intraperitoneal LD50 in mice was estimated to be 1131.4 mg/kg. Our results suggest that the methanol stem bark extract of Acacia albida may contain psychoactive principles that are relevant to the management of epilepsy (petit mal).
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    PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ANTIDIARRHOEAL STUDIES OF THE STEM BARK OF CEIBA PENTANDRA (BOMBACACEAE)
    (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, 2009-03) Sule, M.I.; Njinga, N.S.; Musa, A.M.; Magaji, M.G.; Abdullahi, A.
    Ceiba pentandra is a plant commonly used traditionally to treat ailments including diarrhea in Nigeria. The methanolic extract of the stem bark of Ceiba pentandra was studied for its phytochemical constituents and antidiarrhoeal activity using castor oil-induced diarrhea and intestinal transit time models in mice. The phytochemical studies of the methanolic extract revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, resins and carbohydrates. The extract showed significant (p< 0.05) protection against castor oil-induced diarrhea at (1000mg/kg) but no significant delay in intestinal transit time was observed. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the methanolic extract was found to be greater than 5000mg/kg which suggested that the extract was non toxic at the antidiarrhoeal dose of 1000mg/kg. The results indicate that the methanolic extract contains compounds with antidiarrhoeal activity