Mimano Esther Wacera. U29/35675/2010 Supervisor : Dr. Stanley N. Ndwigah,PhD. Senior lecturer.

ABSTRACT Background : This subterranean root parasite plant lacking chlorophyll is from the family Hydnoraceae. Study objective: To investigate its pharmacological activity on various isolated organs and its analgesic potency. Methodology : Extraction using water, chloroform, methanol solvents. Results : Presence of activity on ileum smooth muscle and analgesic potency. Conclusion: More research should be conducted to develop it as a drug.

INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants are rich sources of bioactive compounds that serve as raw material for drug production. Uterine muscle contracts rhythmically both in vitro and in vivo. Ileum is composed of smooth muscle whose motility is controlled by excitatory and inhibitor signals. Pain is an unpleasant feeling caused by intense or damaging stimuli.

BACKGROUND Plants as medicines have beneficial effects on health and can be effectively used to treat diseases. Hydnora abyssinica is also known as Hydnora johannis. It belongs to the family Hydnoraceae. Plant body is rhizome like with the leaves absent. Flowers are solitary, appearing above the ground as a tube with fleshy calyx lobes meeting. These flowers soon separate, revealing a red and white cross structure.

BACKGROUND CONT’D… Hydnora abyssinica decoction is claimed to be used as a cure for throat complaints, dysentry, cholera and tonsilitis. It can be used as an antifungal and antibacterial. It is known as nyambo in Swahili (Weiss 1979:50).

The Hydnora abyssinica plant

STUDY JUSTIFICATION Lack of adequate pharmacological and chemical data on Hydnora abyssinica.

OBJECTIVES Overall objective : To investigate and evaluate the pharmacological activity of the Hydnora abyssinica on some selected isolated laboratory organs and its analgesic potency. Specific objectives were to : 1. Determine the effect of plant extract on an isolated rat uterus. 2. Determine the effect of the plant extract on an isolated rabbit ileum. 3. Determine the analgesic potency of plant extract using the hot plate method.

METHODOLOGY Plant collection The plant was collected from Mashiara, Embu County. Extraction The already dried collected plant material underwent various extraction processes, namely: 1. Maceration. 2. Decoction. 3. Dichloromethane extraction –soxhlet extractor. 4. Methanol extraction – soxhlet extractor.

Soxhlet Extractor

RESULTS Methanol Extract Results.Chloroform Extract Results. i) On isolated rabbit ileum:

RESULTS CONT’D… Methanol Extract ResultsChloroform Extract Results ii) On rat uterus

RESULTS CONT’D… A graph showing time (minutes) against response (seconds) of control groups. iii) Analgesic Potency

RESULTS CONT’D… A graph showing time (minutes) against response (seconds) of test groups.

DISCUSSION i) On isolated rabbit ileum Acetylcholine caused marked contraction. It acts by activation of M3 receptors. Both methanol and chloroform extracts caused contractions. Compounds extracted may be assumed to have acted in a similar manner as acetylcholine. Plant extract can therefore be used as a laxative.

DISCUSSION CONT’D… ii) On isolated rat uterus Oxytocin caused marked contractions by acting on oxytocin receptors found in the myometrium and endometrium. No significant response was observed with both the chloroform and methanol extracts.

DISCUSSION CONT’D… The negative control used was normal saline which had no effect on the mice and showed a normal response. The positive control used was morphine, a potent analgesic. Its activity increased with increase in time until there was no response. The plant extracts were observed to all have similar response curves as that of morphine. The plant extract can therefore be used as an analgesic.

CONCLUSION Conclusion No significant effect on the isolated rat uterus. It increases gut motility hence research can be done to develop it as a drug. It showed mild analgesic properties and can further necessitate its need to be developed as an analgesic. Recommendations More research should be conducted to identify the specific biological compound responsible for the pharmacological actions.

REFERENCES Anonymous. Last updated Monday, December 30 th Site accessed at 11:06 pm 27 th May, Extraction in Theory and Practice (Part 1). Emma S. Darios, Bridget Seitz and Stephanie W. Watts (2012). Smooth muscle pharmacology in the isolated virgin and pregnant rat uterus and cervix, The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 2012, 341 (3) pages Kurt Hosetettmann. Strategy for the Biological and Chemical Evaluation of Plant Extracts. mann.html©1999 IUPAC.

ACKNOWLEGEMENT Dr. Stanely N. Ndwigah. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Department of Pharmacology. Department of Pharmacognosy. Panel especially in my project presentation for their comments and advices.

THANK YOU.