Adaptogenic Potentials of Cyphostemma glaucophilla Aqueous Leaf Extract

Abstract

Cytophostemma glaucophilla aqueous extract is used in Kogi and Kwara States of Nigeria to treat Kwashiorkor and to boost immunity. As part of the effort to evaluate its effect on stress, it was screened for adaptogenic potentials. This investigation was conducted using albino rats to determine the ability of this plant to increase non specific resistance against physical, biological and chemical stressors. Showed that, the extract significantly (p<0.05) and dose dependently protected the rats from cold immobilization induced stress ulcers; the extract inhibited ulceration by 21.30% at a dose of 100 mg kg^-1 and 56.09% at a dose of 500 mg kg^-1 when compared with the control treatments (0.85% NaCl; 5 mL kg^-1). The extract protected the animals from bacterial induced mortality and morbidity and significantly (p<0.05) reduced infection-induced leucocytosis in the rats and also alleviated the hepatic degenerative changes associated with ciprofloxaxin. Findings have shown remarkable ability of the extract to increase non specific resistance to physical, biological and chemical stressors and could qualify as an adaptogen.