Goddidit Esiro ENOYOZE

Musanga cecropioides R. Br. ex Tedlie (Family Urticaceae) is a tree distributed across some parts of Africa including Nigeria. Ethno-medicinal surveys shows that its leaves, root and root sap are used in the management of several health conditions, but there is a dearth of information on the biological activities of these parts of the plant to substantiate the ethno-medicinal claims. This study was aimed at evaluating the phyto-constituents and phytomedicinal properties of Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap. The elucidation of phyto-constituents was done by carrying out qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, and screenings for vitamins, carotene, amino acids and mineral elements using standard protocols. Acute and sub- acute toxicity assessments of the samples were carried out in experimental an mals using established protocols. Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap were screened for antioxidant activities using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrozyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging models, while the DNA protective effect was investigated on DNA damage caused by Fenton’s reagent. The antitussive activity was analyzed using the citric acid-induced cough model and mucus expectoration experiment, while anti- asthmatic properties were elucidated using the ovalbumin-induced asthma model. Antidiarrheal and anti-diabetic properties were elucidated using the castor oil-induced diarrhoea and Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes models respectively. The screening of Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap for the phyto-constituents revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, moisture, fat, proteins, vitamins, carotene, essential and non-essential amino acids and micro and macro mineral elements in considerable quantities. The median lethal dose (LD50) for the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts, methanol root extract and crude root sap were indeterminable as no adverse effect was observed at the highest dose of 10000 mg/kg body weight, while the aqueous root extract caused absolute mortality at 5000, 7500 and 10000 mg/kg body weight leaving the LD50 at 2236 mg/kg body weight. The sub-acute toxicity study revealed that the extracts did not significantly alter the body weight and haematology parameters at 500, 1000, 2500 mg/kg. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrozyl and 2,2’-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid scavenging assays revealed the presence of antioxidants in all samples with the leaf extracts showing the best activity. The leaf and root extracts protected pCAMBIA 1301 DNA from damage by Fenton’s reagent. Musanga cecropioides leaf extracts, root extracts and root sap showed significant anti-diarrhoeal activities, significantly increased mucus expectoration and suppressed cough bouts in guinea pigs at all doses in the antitussive study. In the anti-asthmatic study, the leaf extracts significantly increased the latency to pre-convulsive dyspnoea. The anti-diabetic study revealed significant reduction in glucose level by the aqueous leaf extract (50 mg/kg), methanol leaf extract (200 mg/kg), aqueous root extract (200mg/kg) and the root sap (2 ml/kg). Musanga cecropioides leaf, root and root sap possess antitussive, anti-asthmatic, anti-diarrheal and anti-diabetic activities. In conclusion, the therapeutic properties elicited by these plants extracts on selected diseases validated its ethnomedicinal reports.