Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the aqueous extracts of Margaritaria discoidea (Euphorbiaceae) stem bark in experimental animal models

Abstract

Abstract:Margaritaria discoidea is a medicinal plant used for the treatment of various body pains in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. The aqueous extract of its stem bark was investigated for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in animal models. The extract at 50, 100 and 200mg/kg body weight reduced significantly the formation of oedema induced by carrageenan and histamine. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the extract had a good analgesic effect characterized by a reduction in the number of writhes when compared to the control. Similarly, the extract caused dose-dependent decrease of licking time and licking frequency in rats injected with 2.5% formalin. These results were also comparable to those of indomethacin, the reference drug used in this study. Acute toxicity test showed that the plant may be safe for pharmacological uses. This study has provided some justification for the folkloric use of the plant in several communities for conditions such as stomachache, pain and inflammations. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (4): 1193-1200. Epub 2009 December 01.

Selective activity of extracts of Margaritaria discoidea and Homalium africanum on Onchocerca ochengi

“…This may imply a detoxification mechanism in the liver of mice in vivo . One other study [19] also did not find any acute toxicity and no adverse change in behavior in mice following oral administration of an aqueous extract (3200 mg/kg body weight) of M. discoidea . This finding in mice lends credence to the ethnopharmacologically observed lack of toxicity or adverse effects in humans.…”

Acute oral toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Lampaya medicinalis Phil in rats

“…The increase in volume was taken as the volume of edema and was determined for each rat (V 0 ) . The percent of edema inhibition in treated animals versus control no treated was calculated by the following equation [24, 25]. …”

Evaluation of Antinociceptive Activity of Aqueous Extract of Bark of Psidium Guajava in Albino Rats and Albino Mice

“…Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing model represents pain sensation by releasing arachidonic acid via cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin biosynthesis which plays a role in the nociceptive mechanism [23] Prostanoids such as PGE2 and PGF2a as well as lipoxygenase products have been found at higher level in the peritoneal fluid after intraperitonial injection of acetic acid. The analgesic effect occurs due to its action on visceral receptors that is sensitive to acetic acid by inhibiting the production of algogenic substances or inhibiting the transmission of painful messages at the central level [24].…”