PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF ANTI-POISON AND ANTI-ULCEROGENIC EFFECTS OF LEAF EXTRACTS FROM BRILLANTAISIA CICATRICOSA LINDAU IN GUINEA-PIG

Abstract

Brillantasia cicatricosa Lindau is used in folk medicine in the Great Lake Region to treat a number of diseases and poisonous. This study evaluated the potentiality of the plant extracts to protect against ulceration caused by anti-inflammatory drugs and against cyanide or strychnine poisoning in animal model on guinea-pigs. Dried leaves of the plant were extracted with methanol, chloroform and dichloromethane using general phytochemical procedures. Ulcer was induced with indomethacin (20 mg/kg) in propylene glycol. Potassium cyanide (6.6 mg/kg i.p.) and strychnine (4.4mg/kg sc.) were used as poisons. Solutions of extracts were administered (250-4000 mg/kg) orally thirty minutes before treating animals. The number of ulcer nodules or deaths served to measure the efficacy of the extracts. Chemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids/phenols, terpenes/sterols, but the absence of alkaloids. Flavonoids and terpenes/sterols presented significant antiulcer activity not present in the chloroform extract. Chloroform extract presented significant antidote effect in dose dependent manner with DE₅₀ of about 500 mg/kg for KCN and 1000 mg/kg for Strychnine.  This preliminary study shows that the plant Brillantaisia â€‹â€‹cicatricosa Lindau has antiulcer activity and its use could improve the vital or functional prognosis of cyanide and strychnine poisoning. It is worth undertaking deep chemical study to isolate active terpene or flavonoid second metabolites.