PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ACUTE TOXICITY, ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTITUSSIVE EFFECTS OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF THE LEAVES OF HYMENOCARDIA ACIDA TUL.
AbstractThis study aims at valorizing the leaves of Hymenocardia acida Tul., a medicinal plant traditionally used in the Republic of Congo and other African countries, for healing cough and respiratory infections. The aqueous extract, prepared by decoction, showed a low acute toxicity in mice (LD50 > 5000 mg/kg). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, condensed tannins, saponins, mucilages, reducing sugars, and anthraquinones. The oral administration of the extract at 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg significantly inhibited ammonia-induced cough in guinea pigs, with a prolonged reaction latency and a reduction of post-exposure cough bouts, comparable to the effect of dextromethorphan (0.5 mg/kg). Conversely, no significant effects were observed on cigarette smoke-induced cough. The extract also exhibited an in vitro antibacterial activity against a clindamycin-resistant strain of staphylococcus aureus, at concentrations of 1% and 10%, but no activity was observed against Escherichia coli. These findings validate the traditional use of Hymenocardia acida Tul. and highlight its natural antitussive and antibacterial potential.
Article Information
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666-677
759 KB
5
English
IJP
G. F. Nsonde Ntandou *, D. P.-D. Louzolo, B. A. E. Loufoua, S. Makemba, G. Tsiba, S. S. Landou Pandzou, G. T. D. Nombo Lassy, D. R. Mban, A. P. Nzoumba Pandi and N. Isso
Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Pathophysiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Marien NGOUABI University, Brazzaville, P.O. Box 69, Republic of the Congo.
nsonde_ntandou@yahoo.fr
19 May 2026
24 June 2026
29 June 2026
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.13(7).666-77
01 July 2026
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