EFFECTS OF THE LEAF OF HEINSIA CRINATA ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF CHLOROQUINE IN RATS
The in vivo study of the effects of concurrent administration of chloroquine and ethanolic extract of the leaf of Heinsia crinata on the pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine was carried out in rats. Sixty rats were divided into two equal groups. Chloroquine phosphate (15mg/kg) was administered concurrently with Heinsia crinata extract (200mg/kg) to the first group. While chloroquine only was administered to the second group. Blood was collected through cardiac puncture under chloroform anesthesia at 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 4.00 and 8.00 hours. The blood serum was analyzed spectrophotometrically at 344 and 260/280nm, respectively. The results indicated that concurrent oral administration of chloroquine and Heinsia crinata extract caused significant (p<0.05) decrease in most pharmacokinetic parameters of chloroquine including Ka (23.15%), Ke (22.31%), Cmax (16.67%), Cl (22.59%), Vd (1.68%), and AUC(0-8) (14.18%). Nevertheless, a few of the pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly (p<0.05) increased relative to control such as t1/2 (26.88%), tmax (100.00%) and AUC (0-∞) (27.07%). There was also a mean significant (p<0.05) microsomal protein induction of 39.66% in the test group. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract of Heinsia crinata revealed the presence of terpenes, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, alkaloids and absence of saponins, anthraquinones and phlobatannins. Proximate analysis of the plant’s leaf indicated protein (15.31mg/100g), crude fibre (10.40mg/100g), crude fat (4.80mg/100g), ash (9.20mg/100g), carbohydrates (72.29mg/100g) and energy content of 375.60Kcal. Elemental analysis of the leaf indicated that it is rich in Na, K, Ca and Mg, while Fe, Zn and Pb occurred in trace amount. Heinsia crinata significantly altered the parameters of chloroquine