PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PSYCHOSOMATIC EVALUATIONS

ABSTRACT

Leptoderris micrantha Dunn. family Fabaceae is a liana distributed across West Africa. It is commonly known as ‘Awo’ by the Yorubas. Traditional herbal practitioners have reported the plant in the treatment of mental disorders, gout and oedema in the South Western part of Nigeria. In this study, the phytochemical and psychosomatic properties of the aqueous and methanol leaf extracts of L. micrantha were evaluated. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical screening, proximate and mineral elements composition were clarified using conventional procedures. Nutritional factors were elucidated using GC-MS. Chemical identification of bioactive compounds present was analyzed using HPLC. The GC-MS result from the aqueous leaf extract was used in the in silico studies. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, TAC and Reducing Power. Acute oral toxicological assessments were performed on laboratory mice following standard protocols with a dose of 5, 25, 100, 2500 and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Sub-acute toxicity tests were carried out on Wistar rats for 28 days. Animals were subjected to anti-depressant, anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, anti-convulsion, anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. Hepato-protective ability of the leaf extracts in Wistar rats induced with Carbon tetrachloride was evaluated.