Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Crinum jagus Bulb Aqueous Extract: A Potential Indicator for Anti-Convulsive Syncope Properties

Abstract

Plants and their derivatives are essential to human and animal lives. They are used traditionally to treat various diseases. Crinum jagus (Amarylidaceae) plant is one of such plants. It is employed in the treatment of asthma, mental related illnesses, inflammation, diverse forms of convulsion etc. The most commonly used part of Crinum jagus plant for medicinal purposes is the bulb. Convulsive syncope is characterized by a sudden temporary loss of consciousness and involuntary muscle jerk due to reduced supply of oxygen to the brain. It is not the same as epilepsy, which normally occurs as a result of sudden electrical surge in the brain, but was reported to have cardivascular origin cause, and also leads to higher short-term mortality than epilepsy. This study screened Crinum jagus bulb crude aqueous extract for its phytochemicals namely alkaloids, saponnin, flavonoid, terpenoids, tannins, anthraquinones, phenols, steroids, cardiac glycosides, oxalates, and phytate; and also evaluated its antioxidant activity using different standard methods, in order to evaluate its anti-convulsive syncope potential as its being used locally. The results of the study revealed that Crinum jagus bulb is very rich in phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and tannins. The terpenoids, oxalates, steroids, alkaloids, saponins, anthroquinone, and phytates were also present in appreciable proportion needed to support its anti-convulsive syncope property. The extract also displayed significant antioxidant activity in each of the different methods used, which also compliments its potential as an anti-convulsive syncope agent. Thus, Crinum jagus bulb crude aqueous extract could be developed into a potent anti-convulsive syncope agent that will be cheaper and readily available for the masses.