Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Acute Oral Toxicity and Anticonvulsant Activity of the Berries of Solanum nigrum Linn

Hoang Le Son , Phan Thi Hai Yen

School of Biotechnology, International University â€“ Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam;

For correspondence:- Hoang Son Email: hlson@hcmiu.edu.vn Tel:+84908311518

Received: 15 November 2013 Accepted: 9 April 2014 Published: 26 June 2014

Citation: Son HL, Yen PT. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Acute Oral Toxicity and Anticonvulsant Activity of the Berries of Solanum nigrum Linn. Trop J Pharm Res 2014; 13(6):907-912 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v13i6.12

© 2014 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the preliminary phytochemical properties, acute oral toxicity and anticonvulsant activity of the berries of Solanum nigrum Linn (S. nigrum).

Methods: Phytochemicals from the ethanol berry extract were screened by standard methods. Acute oral toxicity study was conducted as per Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 425 guidelines while anticonvulsant activity was evaluated against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure in mice. The effect of the extract at dose levels of 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight was evaluated in an experimental mice model, using phenobarbital as positive control (100 mg/kg p.o).

Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the berries of S. nigrum contain carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, phenols and steroids. The oral median lethal dose of the extract was 3129 mg/kg body weight. The extract significantly delayed the latency of convulsion (p F6; 0.05) in PTZ-induced seizure mice in at the dose of 300 mg/kg p.o. The extract also reduced the frequency of convulsion and provided up to 100 % protection (300 mg/kg p.o) against death.

Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that the ethanol berry extract of Solanum nigrum is safe and possesses anticonvulsant activity in PTZ-induced seizure in mice.

Keywords: Solanum nigrum, Phytochemical, Anticonvulsant, Pentylenetetrazole, Lethal dose, Acute toxicity