Toxicological Activity of the Methanolic Leaf Extract of Some Medicinal Plants Used in Sokoto Township and Environs
Z. A. Shagari
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Bello
Department of Chemistry, Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Nigeria.
U. K. Mohammed
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. I. Dabai
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. Mahmuda *
Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. S. Baki
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
A. U. Imam
School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
M. Ganau
School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Inspite of the availability of different antiseptic and antibiotics in most localities in some parts of the world, there is still a number of information on the usage of some local plants in various kinds of treatments of different ill-health conditions. Leaves of Ocimum basilicum, Leptadania hastata and Momordica balsamina are locally used by traditional birth attendants at pre and post-partum periods. The present study investigates the phytochemical compositions and toxicity of the leaf extracts of the plants against isolates of Listeria monocytogenes. Standard microbiological techniques and polymerase chain reaction was used to isolate and identify the bacteria. Phytochemical analysis was done and cytotoxicity of the extracts at different concentrations (MBC, OBC and LHC) were determined using human erythrocytes. Results of the phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpinoids and glycosides in the studied extracts. Toxicity to erythrocytes, expressed as percentage hemolysis of only 17.27% (MBC1) was seen in one of the plants; M. balsamina. Similarly, the other extracts exhibited minimal toxicity to human erythrocytes (LHC1= 15.45%; OBC1= 7.6%). It was concluded that all the plant leaf extracts are safe for human consumption. Studies on the preparation, effective doses and side effects of these extracts in vivo are hereby recommended.
Keywords: Toxicology, Ocimum basilicum, Leptadania hastata and Momordica balsamina, medicinal plants, Sokoto Township.