Phytochemical and anthelmintic investigation of Dombeya Rotundifolia (hochst) Planch

Abstract

Dombeya rotundifolia (Hochst ) is widespread in Kenya and has many traditional uses Its stems and roots, for example, are used as anthelmintic, to hasten onset of labour, as an abortifacient and for treatment of diarrhoea. The plant material was collected at Gaitura village in Mangu district Phytochemical studies on Dombeya rotundifolia stem bark show it contained cardiac glycosides using Kedde s test and saponins using haemolysis test, but lacked alkaloids and anthraquinones. The chloroform extract yielded lupeol and psitosterol, which were identified using spectroscopic methods. Using the egg hatch assay and larval mortality assay, it was shown that the extracts delayed the normal hatching of strongyle eggs, while killing the larvae at high concentration The extracts also prevented the normal development of larvae to adult stage in the larvae development assay. Methanol extract was the most active in larval mortality assay. The aqueous extracts relaxed the isolated rabbit ileum The extracts and the isolated compounds had high activity against Anemia salina. The present work shows there may be a scientific basis for the traditional use of Dombeya rotundifolia as an anthelmintic