ABSTRACT
Introduction/Objectives: Fluegge a virosa grows wild in tropical Africa, Arabian
Peninsula, tropical Asia, Japan, Australia and Polynesia, and it can also be
domesticated. The different parts of the plant have many folkloric usage for diverse
ailments including pain, fever, malaria, sexual dysfunction, diabetes, epilepsy,
antiarrhythmic, HIV -related illness among many others. The root is claimed to be the
most potent part of the plant. In view of the claimed therapeutic potentials,
investigation of the aqueous extract of the root was carried out to ascertain its acute
toxicity, phytochemical constituents and analgesic activity.
Methodology: The plant material was extracted using decoction method since this is
how it is used locally. Acute toxicity tests were conducted in rats using modified
Lorke' s method to determine the safety of the extract. Phytochemical screening was
conducted using methods outlined in Trease and Evans to determine the components
of the extracts. Analgesic studies were carried out using thermal induced pain (tailflick
method) and chemical induced pain (formalin) in rats by giving extracts orally at
100, 200 and 400mglkg of body weight.
Results: Acute toxicity tests did not record any death among the different groups of
rats used. Phytochemical tests showed the presence of tannins, saponins, terpenoids,
cardiac glycosides and reducing sugars. Analgesic studies (thermal induced pain-tailflick
method) showed some activity, which tested insignificant to ANOVA test and
chemical induced pain (formalin) showed good activity and tested significant to
ANOVA test.
Conclusion: The aqueous root extract of Flueggea virosa has many useful
phytochemical constituents. Acute toxicity tests indicated that the extract could be
generally regarded as safe. The extract has a dose dependent analgesic effect which is
perhaps not centrally mediated. Thus the results provide support for the use of the
plant in relieving pain and fever among the natives in rural areas.
KEZIA, M (2021). A Study Of The Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical And ~: , Analgesic Properties Of The Aqueous Root Extract Of ~ Flueggea Virosa (Family: Euphorbiaceae). Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/a-study-of-the-acute-toxicity-phytochemical-and-analgesic-properties-of-the-aqueous-root-extract-of-flueggea-virosa-family-euphorbiaceae
KEZIA, MATUKI "A Study Of The Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical And ~: , Analgesic Properties Of The Aqueous Root Extract Of ~ Flueggea Virosa (Family: Euphorbiaceae)" Afribary. Afribary, 03 Jun. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/a-study-of-the-acute-toxicity-phytochemical-and-analgesic-properties-of-the-aqueous-root-extract-of-flueggea-virosa-family-euphorbiaceae. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.
KEZIA, MATUKI . "A Study Of The Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical And ~: , Analgesic Properties Of The Aqueous Root Extract Of ~ Flueggea Virosa (Family: Euphorbiaceae)". Afribary, Afribary, 03 Jun. 2021. Web. 14 Oct. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/a-study-of-the-acute-toxicity-phytochemical-and-analgesic-properties-of-the-aqueous-root-extract-of-flueggea-virosa-family-euphorbiaceae >.
KEZIA, MATUKI . "A Study Of The Acute Toxicity, Phytochemical And ~: , Analgesic Properties Of The Aqueous Root Extract Of ~ Flueggea Virosa (Family: Euphorbiaceae)" Afribary (2021). Accessed October 14, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/a-study-of-the-acute-toxicity-phytochemical-and-analgesic-properties-of-the-aqueous-root-extract-of-flueggea-virosa-family-euphorbiaceae