Abstract

PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ABORTIFACIENT POTENTIAL OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF Dennettia tripetala BAKER F. LEAF (ANNONACEAE) IN PREGNANT ALBINO RATS

Odoh U. E.* and Emechebe E. M.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out phytochemical screening of Dennettia tripetala leaves, its LD50 in mice and to also ascertain its abortifacient potential in pregnant albino rats. The pregnant rats were randomized into four groups (A-D).They were treated on days 10-18 at 8hr intervals. Those in group A (positive control) were orally administered 2.85mg/kg body weight of mifepristone, while those in group B and C were orally treated with 250 and 500mg/kg body weight of the extract. Group D received 0.5ml of 3%tween 80.Quantitative and qualitative analyses were also performed on the leaf extracts. Phytochemical screening of the extract showed positive results for alkaloids (1.18%), tannins (3.18%), glycosides (0.612%), saponins (0.041%) and flavonoids (0.256%). For the LD50, no death was recorded with the high dose of 5000 mg/kg. The extract significantly reduced (P

Keywords: Dennettia tripetala, abortifacient effect, phytochemical analysis, acute toxicity test.