PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY STUDIES OF THE STEM BARK OF FICUS GLUMOSA DEL. (MORACEAE)

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY STUDIES OF THE STEM BARK OF FICUS GLUMOSA DEL. (MORACEAE)

Abstract:

Ficus glumosa is widely distributed in Northern part of Nigeria; it has been exploited for both its medicinal and economic importance. It is traditionally used for the treatment of number of ailments including gastrointestinal, respiratory, inflammatory, cardiovascular disorders, ulcerative diseases, and cancers. Specifically, the roots are used in treatment of female sterility where as stem bark, have shown to be useful in the management of inflammations and paralysis. Evaluations of the fresh anatomical sections, powder and extract/fractions of the stem bark were carried out to determine the micromorphological, chemomicroscopic, some physicochemical, phytochemical, elemental content, acute toxicity and anti inflammatory properties by using standard procedures. Microscopical evaluation revealed the presence of the cork cells 10.84 μm, calcium oxalate crystals prism type 36.04 μm, fibres 126.96 μm, phloem parenchyma cells, and medullary rays. The physical constants revealed moisture content of 11.1 %, total ash value of 9.1 %, water soluble ash of 6.5 %, acid insoluble ash of 2.0 %, ethanol extractive value of 16.6 % and water extractive value of 12.0 %. Phytochemical analysis of the stem bark extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids and triterpenes. Elemental analysis of the powdered stem bark revealed the presence of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni and Co. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the extract and fractions were found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg when administered orally in rats and considered practically non-toxic. The methanol extract of F. glumosa stem bark demonstrated protective activity against carageenan induced inflammation in rats at 500mg/kg with 28% protection at the end of the 3th hour which is comparable to the piroxicam 10mg/kg treated group with 28% protection and the results were statistically significant (p<0.05). The ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions also showed protective activity at the dose of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg. The ethylacetate produced significantly (p<0.05) sustained, dose dependant reduction of hind paw oedema in rats with upto 26% protection at the end of the 3th hour. The butanol and aqueous fractions produced time related, sustained but non dose depentant significant reduction (p<0.05) of carageenan induced inflammation of the rats hind paw. The results provided pharmacognostic profile for proper identification of the plant and scientific basis for the traditional use of the stem bark in the management of inflammation.

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY STUDIES OF THE STEM BARK OF FICUS GLUMOSA DEL. (MORACEAE)