PHARMACOGNOSTIC EVALUATION, NEUROBEHAVIORAL AND ANALGESIC STUDY OF THE ETHANOL BARK EXTRACT OF TERMINALIA IVORENSIS A. CHEV (COMBRETACEAE)

Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev (Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant used in folk medicine in the management of pain, rheumatic condition, gastroenteritis and as a tranquilizer in psychotic disorder. The sample was washed, air-dried and milled. The moisture content of the milled sample was measured 0.7%, Total ash value of 6.5%, Water extractive value of 3.5% and Alcohol extractive value of 1.45%. The crude extract was screened for the presence of some phytoconstituents and was found to contain Saponins, Flavonoids, Tannins, and traces of alkaloid. This study evaluated the pharmacognostic, neurobehavioral and analgesic activities of the ethanol bark extract of T. ivorensis (EBETI). Effects of EBETI (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) on novelty-induced behaviours were determined using novelty induced rearing and grooming test and open field test. Analgesic property of EBETI (40, 60, and 80 mg/kg) was evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing, and tail immersion tests. The extract was administered once intraperitoneally. The LD50 of EBETI was 89.44mg/kg. EBETI (20, 40, and 60 mg/kg) significantly reduced rearing and grooming as compared with controls. EBETI (40, 60, and 80 mg/kg) significantly inhibited abdominal constriction in writhing assay as compared with control. However, the extract could not alter response to thermal stimulus in tail immersion test. Therefore, EBETI is sedative and has analgesic effect, thus supporting its folkloric use in pain management and as a tranquilizer.