SOME NEUROPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON ETHANOL EXTRACT AND FRACTIONS OF TAPINANTHUS GLOBIFERUS A. RICH MISTLETOE ON VITELLARIA PARADOXA HOST IN LABORATORY ANIMALS

📄 Project Abstract

Tapinanthus globiferus is a semi-parasite mistletoe which grows on branches of large number of trees including Vitellaria paradoxa. It used locally in the management of insomnia, epilepsy, anxiety, headaches and hypertension. This study evaluated the toxicity and neuropharmacological properties of ethanol extract and fractions of T. globiferus. These were carried out using standard methods. Phytochemical screening of T. globiferus ethanol extract (TgE) revealed presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids terpenoids and tannins variously distributed among the fractions. The intraperitoneal LD50 of TgE was 1,300 and 3,800 mg/kg in mice and rats respectively and 5,000 mg/kg orally. However, fractions of ethylacetate and ethylacetate water insoluble intraperitoneal LD50 were 1,400 and 1,100 mg/kg respectively, and 3,800 mg/kg each for butanol and residual aqueous in mice. Oral administration of TgE for 28 days in rats produced no effects on bod...