Pharmacognostic screening and antiemetic evaluation of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida benth. (rubiaceae)

Emesis is a common side and adverse effect associated with many illnesses, even drugs. It is the act or process of vomiting. Causes vary from pregnancy, morning sickness, motion sickness, chemotherapy and so on. Emetics are drugs or substances that induce vomiting. Antiemetics are agents given to stop vomiting and to stop the nauseous feeling. Morinda lucida, Benth. family, Rubiacae. It is commonly known as brimstone tree. It is about 24m long, the branches are fibrous in nature and does not break easily, the tree bark is brown to grey, the leaves are green with green fruits.

This project is focused on the pharmacognostic evaluation and antiemetic activities of the ethanol extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida.

The plants were properly collected and identified by a taxonomist, then, air dried at room temperature, blended using an electric miller. The ethanol leaf extract of the plant was obtained using cold maceration, filtered and concentrated using rotary evaporator. The extract was used for antiemetic evaluations, pharmacognostic and chromatographic (thin layer chromatography) evaluations. The LD50 was determined using Lorkes method. Pharmacognostic evaluation shows the presence of, lignin, cellulose, saponin, tannis, alkaloids flavonoids. The LD50 shows that there was no death recorded. The result of the research shows that the ethanol extract of Morinda lucida on 2 weeks old chickens exhibited antiemetic effect.

It can therefore be concluded that the ethanol extract of Morinda lucida possess antiemetic activity as claimed and the result of these findings can be of great importance to the development of new antiemetic drug.