Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of solvent fractions of the leaves of Moringa stenopetala Bak. (Moringaceae) in mice models

Abstract

BackgroundMany people still experience pain and inflammation regardless of the available drugs for treatments. In addition, the available drugs have many side effects, which necessitated a quest for new drugs from several sources in which medicinal plants are the major one. This study evaluated the analgesic and anti- inflammatory activity of the solvent fractions of Moringa stenopetala in rodent models of pain and inflammation.MethodsSuccessive soxhlet and maceration were used as methods of extractions using solvents of increasing polarity; chloroform, methanol and water. Swiss albino mice models were used in radiant tail flick latency, acetic acid induced writhing and carrageenan induced paw edema to assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The test groups received different doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) of the three fractions (chloroform, methanol and aqueous). The positive control groups received morphine (20 mg/kg) or aspirin (100 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg) based on the respective models. The negative control groups received the 10 ml/kg of vehicles (distilled water or 2% Tween 80).ResultsIn all models, the chloroform fraction had protections only at a dose of 400 mg/kg. However, the methanol and aqueous fraction at all doses have shown significant central and peripheral analgesic activities with a comparable result to the standards. The aqueous and methanol fractions significantly reduced carrageenan induced inflammation in a dose dependent manner, in which the highest reduction of inflammation was observed in aqueous fraction at 400 mg/kg.ConclusionThis study provided evidence on the traditionally claimed uses of the plant in pain and inflammatory diseases, and Moringa stenopetala could be potential source for development of new analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs.

<p>Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of 80% Methanol Root Extract of <em>Echinops kebericho</em> M. (Asteraceae)</p>

“…4,26 Furthermore, polyphenols exert their anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of the production of inflammatory cytokines and chemokine and suppressing the activity of (COX and iNOS and thereby decreasing the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species). 8 The results obtained from the present study were in line with the findings of others 8,9,28 that demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of medicinal plants in a dose dependent manner.…”

“…34 This suggestion is in line with the reports that stated, phytoconstituents like, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, and tannin isolated from medicinal plants have been reported to possess a significant analgesic activity. 9,28 In the study of the anti-inflammatory activity, the root extract of EK was detected against carrageenan-induced acute and formalin-induced sub-acute phases of inflammation. Since the inflammatory response is a polyphasic tissue reaction, which involves both short lived increase in vascular permeability and prolonged cellular infiltration and proliferation, it is important to evaluate the potential of the extract for anti-inflammatory effect via a sequential test valid for various phases of inflammation.…”

“…Since the inflammatory response is a polyphasic tissue reaction, which involves both short lived increase in vascular permeability and prolonged cellular infiltration and proliferation, it is important to evaluate the potential of the extract for anti-inflammatory effect via a sequential test valid for various phases of inflammation. 9 Carrageenan-induced hind paw edema is a prototype model which is employed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potentials of various natural and synthetic products as well as to determine the possible mechanisms involved in inflammation. 4,14 Carrageenan is a phlogistic, non-antigenic agent and is devoid of apparent systemic effect, it is also believed that the experimental model exhibited a high degree of reproducibility in acute phase inflammation.…”

“…The late phase which is sustained by the overproduction of COX-2 and its proinflammatory PGs product, with infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (neutrophils), took place 2.5-6hrs post carrageenan induction. 9 There are also other chemicals mediators released during the late phase of inflammation such as, oxygen-derived free radicals like superoxide anion (O 2-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH − ), nitric oxide (NO) which play an important role in the development and progression of acute inflammation. 12,35 The extract at all test doses employed (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively) decreased the formation of edema starting from 1 hr post carrageenan induction and the effects persisted (p < 0.001) till the 4 th hr of observation.…”

“…Using NSAIDs results in increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events especially, in patients taking COX-2 inhibitors. 8 , 9 Opioid analgesics are also associated with many unwanted side effects and toxicities, including drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, pruritus, constipation, disturbing hormonal homeostasis, hearing loss, tolerance, physical dependence, addiction, and respiratory problems. In view of this, there is a need for the intensification of research into medicinal plants which are claimed to be effective in the management of pain and inflammation.…”