Anti-inflammatory Effect of the Alkaloid-rich Fraction of Landolphia owarensis

Background: Plants have several chemical compounds acclaimed to be responsible for the pharmacological actions produced when herbal products are administered to biological systems.Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the alkaloid-rich fraction of the ethanol leaf extract of Landolphia owariensis.Methods: Qualitative phytochemical analyses were carried on the crude extract using standard methods. The alkaloid-rich fraction was obtained from the crude ethanol extract, using the classical acid/base shake-up method and the obtained fraction tested positive to Dragendorf’s reagent. Oral acute toxicity was evaluated by OECD method (No 423). Anti-inflammatory effect of the fraction was evaluated using xylene-induce ear oedema and carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg.Results: Phytochemical screening revealed presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, steroids/terpenes and glycosides. Acute toxicity studies showed no adverse symptoms of toxicity during the 14-day observation period and no mortality was recorded, thus the LD50 was estimated to be greater than 2000 mg/kg. The alkaloid-rich fraction dose-dependently inhibited inflammation induced by xylene and carrageenan. In the xylene test, the fraction produced significant inhibition of 41.70 % at 400 mg/kg (p ≤ 0.05) while in the carrageenan test 55.69 % significant inhibition (p ≤ 0.001) was recorded with 400 mg/kg at 60 mins after induction of inflammation.Conclusion: This study showed the anti-inflammatory potentials of the alkaloid-rich fraction of Landophia owariensis.

Screening for anti-inflammatory activity of extract and fractions of Morinda lucida stem bark and detection of bioactive secondary metabolite

Morinda lucida Benth (Rubiaceae) is a versatile plant used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of ailments and the claims of its efficacy are particularly remarkable in the treatment of infections and immuno-inflammatory disorders. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory properties of methanolic stem bark extract and fractions of M. lucida and also identifies the phytochemicals responsible for its anti-inflammatory activity. The crude extract was subjected to liquid- liquid partitioning successively with n- hexane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the four fractions and Vacuum Liquid Chromatography fraction (VLC) of the promising fraction was evaluated. The effect of the fractions on egg albumen induced rat paw oedema were also evaluated. Anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions was further screened using xylene induce ear oedema models and human red blood cell membrane stabilization test. Ulcerogenic test on the normal stomach mucosa was also evaluated. The result of the egg albumen induced rat paw oedema showed that the butanol fractions maximally inhibited egg albumen induced effect at 400 mg/kg (70%) and 200mg/kg (67.5%) after 180 minutes compared to the positive control, ibuprofen (20mg/kg) with 100% inhibition after 180 minutes. The result of the xylene induced ear oedema showed that the inhibition produced by 100 µg/ear of the Butanol fraction (BF) was 56.67 % and was greater than inhibition produced by 200 µg/ear of ibuprofen (38.89 %). HPLC analysis of the fractions revealed the following phytocompounds; Cytreo- a-pyrone, Cytosporin- J and Waol A. Ulcerogenic test was negative at the doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of the fractions when compare with the indomethacin (positive control) at dose of 50 mg/kg. Human red blood cell membrane stabilization assay showed that BF-VLC 2 (Dichloromethane: methanol (8:2) VLC of Butanol fraction) exhibited concentration dependent inhibition of heat-induced haemolysis while other extract showed a non- concentration dependent inhibition of haemolysis when compared to the standard, ibuprofen. These findings suggest that the stem bark of M. lucida possess promising anti-inflammatory phytocompounds which justify its use in ethno-medicine.

Anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the ethanol root bark extract of Salacia lehmbachii in rats and mice

Background: The decoction of the roots of Salacia lehmbachi is used in traditional medicine for the treatment different diseases such as malaria pains diabetes and microbial infections.Methods: Phytochemical screening and oral acute toxicity tests were carried out on the ethanol root extract of the plant. Anti-nocicetive activity using acetic acid induced writhing and tail immersion method in mice, anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan induced paw oedema in rats and xylene induced ear oedema test in mice and antipyretic activity using Brewer’s yeast and D-amphetamine induced pyrexia in rats were determined at 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses of the root extract.Results: The ethanol root extract contain alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and cardiac glycosides. The oral acute toxicity tests was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The root extract and the standard drug (Aspirin) significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) decreased the number of writhes caused by acetic acid. The extract and morphine significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) prolonged reaction time in tail immersion model. The extract produced significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01) dose dependent inhibition of oedema which was comparable to aspirin in carrageenan induced paw oedema model. The root extract also demonstrated significant (p<0.05 and p<0.01) effect in xylene induced mouse ear oedema test compared to dexamethasone. The extract significantly decreased high temperature in both Brewer’s yeast and d-amphetamine induced pyrexia.Conclusions: Findings show that S. lehmbachii may provide a good source of plant compounds with analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities.

Anti-inflammatory potential of ethanol leaf extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum in experimental mice

Anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanol leaf extract of Sphenocentrum jollyanum (ELESJ) was assessed in-vivo in mice by using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, egg albumin-induced paw oedema, and xylene-induced ear oedema model at doses of 474.34, 948.68, and 1423.03 mg/kgbw respectively. A total of seventy-five matured mice of both sexes weighing between 20 g and 24 g (divided into three groups of 25 mice each for the 3 different studies) were used for this study. Treatment was done intraperitoneally. Distilled water (10 mL/kgbw), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (100 mg/kgbw) or dexamethasone (4 mg/kgbw) served as the normal and standard drugs respectively. The results showed that ELESJ produced significant (p < 0.05), dose-dependent and time-dependent reductions in mean paw thickness in groups III-V compared with control group. Similarly, the extract caused a dose-dependent increase in percentage inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema and egg-albumin induced paw oedema (34.49%, 36.71%) at the highest dose (1423.03 mg/kg), comparable with the anti-inflammatory effects of the standard drug ASA (34.69%, 31.54%). The ELESJ also caused significant (p < 0.05), dose-dependent decreases in xylene-induced ear oedema weight in all the test groups relative to control group and standard drug group. In addition, ELESJ showed a dose-dependent percentage inhibitory effect (44%) at the highest dose (1423.03 mg/kg) comparable with that of the standard drug, dexamethasone (48%). The results obtained from this study support the use of the leaf in folk medicine as it has significant anti-inflammatory properties and this may be attributed to the phytochemical constituents of the leaf.

Effects of Dacryodes edulis Leaf Extract on Pain and Inflammation

Background: Dacryodes edulis leaf extract is used in traditional settings in management of many disease conditions including pain and inflammation. However, these empirical claims have not been evaluated scientifically. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ethanol leaf extract of Dacryodes edulis on pain and inflammation using rodents. Materials and Methods: Writhing test using acetic acid for induction of pain and tail-immersion in temperature controlled water were used to study the effect on pain sensation while xylene-induced ear oedema and carrageenan-induced paw oedema were used for the effect of Dacryodes edulis on inflammation. Male mice divided into seven groups and three different doses of extract viz,100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg based on the results of the acute toxicity study and the mean effective dose study, ED50 were used for the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar Animal Research Ethics Committee with number: 012PA31116. Results: 400mg/kg extract showed significant analgesic activity having 75% inhibition of pain in the writhing test while aspirin showed 80% inhibition of pain. The extract also significantly (p<0.05) prolonged flick latency period comparable to morphine in tail immersion test. The extract caused 72% inhibition of xylene induced ear oedema compared to 91% of dexamethasone. Similarly it showed comparable activity (p<0.05) with aspirin in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Conclusion: Dacryodes edulis leaf extract has activity against pain and inflammation. This validates its application in management of inflammation and pain in local settings.

Evaluation of Methanol-Dichloromethane Extract of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms (Fabaceae) Stem Bark for Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activities

Background. The stem bark decoction of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms (Fabaceae) is most widely used traditionally as a remedy for various diseases such as malaria and boil. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of the methanol-dichloromethane extract (MDE) from the stem bark of the plant in rodents were evaluated. Methods. The carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rat, and xylene-induced ear oedema in mice were used to study the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol-dichloromethane extract of Stemonocoleus micranthus (MDESm) (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg). The effects of MDESm (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) on cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression, neutrophil adhesion, carbon clearance, and haematological and biochemical parameters were carried out to study its immunomodulatory activity in mice. Result. MDESm (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p<0.05) inhibited carrageenan-induced oedema by 57.1% at 5th h posttreatment compared with control. At 100 mg/kg, p.o., MDESm significantly (p<0.05) reduced cotton pellet-induced granuloma by 39.28% and nonsignificantly reduced xylene-induced ear oedema by 34.1%. Treatment with MDESm (100 and 400 mg/kg) nonsignificantly abolished the neutropenia caused by cyclophosphamide with a percentage neutrophil reduction of 0 and −14.86%, respectively, while MDESm (200 mg/kg) and levamisole (50 mg/kg) had a nonsignificant reduction in neutrophil count (10.16 and 31.40%), respectively, all compared to the distilled water-treated group with a neutrophil count of −9.82%. MDESm at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg increased phagocytic index by 0.0447 ± 0.00762 and 0.0466 ± 0.00703, respectively, although not significantly when compared to the control group with a value of 0.0226 ± 0.02117. There was a decrease in WBC and lymphocyte counts in MDESm- (200 mg/kg) treated group, suggesting immunosuppressive potential at this dose. MDESm caused a dose-dependent decrease in ALT and core liver enzymes, suggesting a hepatoprotective effect. The acute toxicity test revealed that MDESm is safe in mice with an oral lethal dose (LD50) of >5 g/kg. Conclusion. The methanol-dichloromethane extract of Stemonocoleus micranthus Harms possesses mild anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities which may be more pronounced upon fractionation and purification. Therefore, more investigations are needed to explore these activities further.

Chemical composition and anti-arthritic activity of the essential oil from Litsea cubeba against Type II collagen rheumatoid arthritis in rat collagen

Purpose: To study the curative effect of the volatile oil from Litsea cubeba (EOL) on type II collagen (CII) induced arthritic (CIA) rat. Methods: The chemical constituents of EOL were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The analgesic effect of the oil was assessed by acetic acid-stimulated torsion and hot plate methods, while antiinflammatory potential was further assessed by in an ear oedema model induced by dimethylbenzene in mice. The anti-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity of EOL in mice was evaluated in terms of paw volume, arthritis index, thymus and spleen index, and serum inflammatory factor levels. Results: GC-MS showed that α-citral (26.42 %), β-citral (21.94 %), and limonene (12.79 %) were the main components of EOL. Different doses of EOL (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) exerted varying inhibitory effects on torsion in mice induced by acetic acid (p < 0.01) but had no significant effect on thermal stimulation-induced pain. EOL reduced ear oedema in mice (p < 0.01). In addition, EOL (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) reduced the mouse paw volume, arthritis index, and thymus and spleen index (p < 0.01). Furthermore, EOL reduced proinflammatory cytokines in serum but increased antiinflammatory cytokines (p < 0.01). Conclusion: EOL ameliorates symptoms of inflammation in CIA rats by inhibiting inflammatory reactions, suggesting it could be further developed as an anti-arthritic drug. Keywords: Litsea cubeba, Essential oil, Rrheumatoid arthritis, Pro-inflammatory cytokines

Preliminary assessment of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri (Araliaceae) in rodents

Summary Introduction: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important vegetable crop in Syria. Potato tuber moth Cussonia barteri is a small tree that grows in the sub-Saharan part of Africa. Various parts of the plant are used for the treatment of a variety of ailments in ethno-medicine. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the methanol leaf extract of Cussonia barteri. Material and methods: The leaves were air-dried, powdered and repeatedly extracted with methanol using a Soxhlet apparatus. The resulting methanol extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, xylene-induced ear oedema and formalin-induced arthritis tests. Analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced mouse writhing, hot plate and tail flick tests. Results: All doses of the extract significantly (p<0.05) reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema, however the 400 mg/kg dose gave a sustained effect. The extract significantly inhibited xylene induced ear oedema at all doses. There were no significant (p>0.05) reductions in paw swellings due to formalin. In the acetic acid induced writhing test, the extract significantly (p<0.05) decreased writhing at 400 mg/kg only. Reaction times were not significantly different from the control in the hot plate and tail flick tests. Conclusion: This study has shown that the methanol extract possesses acute anti-inflammatory and peripherally mediated analgesic effects.

Anti-inflammatory effect of an Ayurveda polyherbal topical application and exploration of its mechanism of action

Background: Topical application of herbs is one of the recommended treatment modalities for Osteoarthritis (OA) in Ayurveda (Indian system of medicine). The current study intended to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of a polyherbal powder used as Upanaha (poultice) for OA by in vitro and in vivo techniques. Materials and Methods: The polyherbal formulation Upanaha Choornam (UC) was sourced from Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala (P) Ltd., Thrissur, India. Changes in the secretion of TNF-α and NO and expression of Cox-2 genes were evaluated by semi quantitative PCR activity to establish anti-inflammatory action in vitro. Macrophages and connective tissue of mice were used as media for the former two experiments and only macrophages for the latter. In vivo anti–inflammatory activity was evaluated by TPA induced ear oedema in Swiss Albino mice (n=24), divided into 4 groups as Group I - saline treatment, Group II - Indomethacin treatment, and Groups III and IV treated with 30% and 60% of UC respectively. Results: In the in vitro study, UC at 1000 µg/ml and 500 µg/ml upregulated the COX-2 level by 0.08 and 0.03 folds respectively as compared to control. Release of TNF-α, and NO in LPS-induced RAW cells were significantly inhibited in a dose dependent manner. The TPA induced ear oedema significantly reduced in Groups III and IV (F=1250, p less than 0.001) Conclusion: The current study demonstrates the safety and anti-inflammatory activity of a polyherbal formulation Upanaha Choornam as a topical application. This indicates the potential of select herbs in managing degenerative conditions like OA.