Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Potential of the Stem Barks Aqueous Extract of Albizia ferruginea (Guill. & Perr.) Benth. (Mimosaceae) in Rats and Mice

Abstract

Aims: The present research was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic potential of aqueous extract of Albizia ferruginea stem bark.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology (Animal Physiology Laboratory), Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I. between March 2012 and June 2016.
 Methods: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyzes were done.The anti-inflammatory effect of the plant extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) was investigated on carrageenan, histamine, serotonin or dextran-induced paw oedema. The analgesic activity was evaluated on acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced nociception, hot plate and tail immersion tests in Swiss albino mice. The antipyretic activity of A. ferruginea extract was assessed on brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia.
 Results: Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the AEAF revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoïds, phenols, saponins, tannins, glycosides, tannins and steroids. For quantitative phytochemical analysis, total flavonols represent 0.12±0.04 mg EQT/g dried extract and the total phenol content was 58.69±0.65 mg ECA/g dried extract. The total flavonoids content was 0.18±0.01mg EQT/g dried extract).The total alkaloids presented a grade of 27.45±0.14 mg EBER/g dried extract. Carrageenan, dextran, histamine and serotonin-induced inflammation were significantly inhibited by A. ferruginea’s extract (200 mg/kg), exhibiting 55.47%, 50.26%, 62.88% and 42.59% inhibition, respectively. Acetic acid-induced writhing was significantly reduced by the plant extract. The extract of Albizia ferruginea (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the second phase of formalin test. The analgesic tests revealed that A. ferruginea had only peripheral analgesic effect. Additionally, the plant’s extract prevented brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.
 Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that A. ferruginea’s aqueous extract has anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic properties and this strongly supports the ethnopharmacological uses.

Study of the Subacute Toxicity of Dry Bark of Albizia ferruginea (Mimosaceae) (Guill. &Perr.) Berth. in Wistar Albino Rats

“…In the regions of the Center, Coast and South of Cameroon, A. ferruginea is traditionally used for the treatment of several pathologies [6]. Indeed, previous pharmacological studies carried out on this plant have shown that the ethanol extract of A. ferruginea leaves corrects anemia [5] and the total aqueous extract of dry bark of A. ferruginea was able to reduce inflammation, pain and pyrexia [7]. A previous study on acute toxicity indicated that the DL50 of the total aqueous extract of dry bark of A. ferruginea would be greater than 5000 mg/kg [9] and this extract could be classified in category 5 of acute toxicity substances relatively low depending on the globally harmonized classification system (GHS) [10].…”

“…This plant has been used for years in traditional medicine for the treatment of several pathologies [6]. Previous pharmacological studies carried out on this plant showed that the ethanol extract of the leaves corrects anemia [5] and the aqueous extract of dry bark reduces inflammation, algia and pyrexia [7] as well as chronic inflammation in rats [8].…”

“…The qualitative phytochemical investigations of the dry bark aqueous extract of A. ferruginea were performed for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, steroids, glycosides and tannins, by our research team [7,8]. The study of the acute toxicity of the total aqueous extract of the dry bark of A. ferruginea shows that the DL50 was greater than 5000 mg/kg [9] and that this extract could be classified according to the classification system generally harmonized of the OECD in category 5 and considered an oral non-toxic substance [9,10].…”