Abstract:
Omphalocarpum ahia A.Chev. is an evergreen medium-sized tree, about 30 m tall, and exudes a whitish fluid from
the incised bark. It is used in folklore medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation, bacterial and parasitic
diseases. Reports of its pharmacological activities are not widespread. This study sought to evaluate its antileishmanial,
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential. Its anti-leishmanial activity in comparison to
Amphotericin B was evaluated in vitro against promastigote forms of Leishmania donovani using a hemocytometer
counting chamber and a high field microscope with mobility of the parasite as a marker of cell viability. The extract
was tested at concentrations between 15.6-500 μg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was evaluated
using the carrageenan-induced foot edema in chicks whereas the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging
assay was used for the antioxidant evaluation. O. ahia showed a lower anti-leishmanial activity (IC50=124.0±0.67
μg/ml) than the standard drug amphotericin B (2.4± 0.67 μg/ml). It also showed moderate anti-inflammatory
activity (ED50=75.9±0.667 mg/kg BDW) compared to diclofenac (ED50=3.74±0.333). The radical scavenging
activity of O. ahia was just three times less potent than Vitamin E used as positive control. These activities may be
due to the presence of tannins, glycosides, saponins, terpenoids and phytosterols found in the phytochemical
analysis of the plant. Thus from the observed activity, barring any toxicity issues, O ahia may be harnessed and
integrated into the treatment of leishmanias is caused by L. donovani as it may present a cheaper and safe
alternative to the toxic synthetic analogues.
