Evaluations of Some Biological Properties of Ethanolic Leave Extract of Costus Afer (Ker Gawl (original) (raw)

Costus afer plant has been known to the traditionalist for a very long time. The locals having realized its medicinal potentials have employed it in a variety of ways. This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial, biochemical and CNS depressant properties of ethanolic leave extract of Costus afer in albino mice and anti-inflammatory activity in albino rats. Ninety albino mice (22-29g) of both sexes were selected and divided into eighteen groups of five mice each. Four groups for analgesic activity, three groups for in-vivo clothing time, four groups for spontaneous locomotor activity, three groups for heamatological evaluation and four groups for phenobarbitone induced hypnosis. Twenty albino rats (180-200g) of both sexes were also selected and divided into four groups of five rats each and used for anti-inflammatory activity. In all, the control groups receive 0.2ml of normal saline while two dose groups of the extract was used 400 and 1200mg/kg representing low and high dose in the treatment group. Indomethacin, Phenobarbitone, Chropromazine, Indomethacine, Ciprofloxacin and Fluconazole were used as reference drug for anlagesic activity, locomotor activity, hypnosis, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal test respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of ethanolic leave extract of Costus afer was performed. The result of the qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, phenols, glycosides and terpenoids whereas anthraquinones, essential oil and phlobatannins were absent. The results obtained shows that ethanolic leave extract of Costus afer posses antibacterial activity but no antifungal activity. There was a dose dependent increase in analgesic, anti-inflammatory activities, bleeding/clotting time and CNS activity. The hematological evaluation of the leaves of costusafer shows that the extract has no noticeable effect on the HB, PCV, RBC, but decreases the WBC, platelet count, neutrophils and lymphocytes components of the blood, also the clotting/bleeding time was seen to increase dose dependently in the treated groups. In conclusion, ethanol extract of costus afer ker Gawl leaves possess antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and CNS depressant activity.