Variations in Chemical Constituents and Anthelmintic Activity of Albizia zygia (DC.) J.F. Macbr. Essential oils from Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

The widespread and impact of helminth infection on public health is a socio-economic problem in developing nations. Albizia zygia (DC.) J.F Macbr. (Fabaceae; Sub-family – Mimosoideae) is a gum producing tree often useful in the treatment of stomach troubles, as anti-parasitic, antidote, purgative and vermifuge purposes in traditional medicine. This study however, was designed to evaluate the chemical constituents and anthelmintic activity of A. zygia essential oils. The leaves, stem bark and root bark essential oils (EOs) of the plant were extracted by hydrodistillation, analysed by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques and further subjected to an in vitro petri-dish anthelminthic assay. The EOs yield range from 0.254 to 0.268%, a total of 38 (97.6%), 37 (92.2%) and 37 (97.2%) constituents of the total oil fractions were identified in the leaves, stem bark and root bark respectively. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (28.0%) dominated the leaf oil while non-terpene derivatives (44.4% and 27.8%) dominated the stem bark and root bark oils respectively. Major constituents identified include limonene (11.1%), acorenone (10.9%), ?-caryophyllene (10.6%), valerianol (6.4%) and 1,8-cineole (5.8%) in the leaves oil, 2,6,10-trimethylpentadecane (26.5%), 1,8-cineole (12.4%), (E)-?-ionone (6.3%) and acorenone (6.0%) in the stem bark oil, while 1,8-cineole (14.8%), 2,6,10-trimethylpentadecane (12.1%), limonene (10.6%), ?-caryophyllene (7.1%) and viridiflorene (5.8%) were identified in the root bark oil. A. zygia EOs obtained from this study and from literature in two different years, vary significantly in chemical composition. The oils exhibit anthelmintic activity against Eudrilus eugeniae worms in vitro. Paralysis and death of worms occurred faster as EO concentrations were increased. The root bark EO showed the best activity. Significant difference (p<0.001) in activity was observed between the oils and the standard drug, Albendazole. Thus, suggests that A. zygia EOs showed promising anthelmintic properties.