Chemical Composition, In vivo Antihelmintic, and Acute Toxicity Studies of Buchholzia coriacea Engler (Capparaceae) Seed Extract

Abstract

Parasitic illnesses are widespread in tropical Africa due to the conducive climatic and sanitary circumstances that facilitate their transmission. Given the constraints of synthetic medicine, it is necessary to revert to phytotherapy. Phytochemical analysis, antihelmintic, and acute toxicity investigations were conducted on extracts of Buchholzia coriacea (BC) engl. seeds. These extracts were evaluated on Heligmosomoides bakeri. The air-dried and pulverized seeds of BC were extracted with methanol by cold maceration and concentrated using a rotary evaporator. Quantitative phytochemical screenings of the crude seed powder and the methanol extract were performed. Antihelmintic activity was assessed through total worm count reduction (TWCR). In vivo acute toxicity studies of crude seed powder and methanol seed extracts of BC were performed. The phytochemical analysis revealed a significant concentration of flavonoids (13.04 ± 0.02%). Results obtained from the in vivo antihelmintic study revealed a reduction in total worm count from 2.50 ± 0.00, 16.75 ± 0.01, 8.59 ± 0.01, 17.97 ± 0.00, and 0.00 ± 0.00% in day 0 to 100.00 ± 0.00% in day 18 for methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, chloroform, and diethyl ether, respectively, against H.bakeri, compared to abendazole, which showed TWCR from 3.75 ± 0.00% in day 0 to 100.00 ± 0.00% in day 6. The acute toxicity assessment revealed an LD50 value of 5000 mg/kg. The results emphasize the therapeutic possibilities of BC seeds as a natural source of bioactive compounds with antihelmintic activities. This highlights the need for more research to explore their potential use in pharmaceutical applications.