Investigation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Artemisia Afra in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective:The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Artemisia afra.Methods: Animals were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each and administered with normal saline (2 ml/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/ kg), and A. afra at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. For the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced paw edema was used while the hot plate and acetic acid induced-writhing tests were used to assess the antinociceptive activity.Results: Pretreatment with A. afra at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not show any significant biological effects (p>0.05) for any of the three tests, when compared against saline-treated control group. At a dose of 200 mg/kg, A. afra demonstrated significant effects (p<0.01), during the 5 th h reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema by 12%. The highest dose (400 mg/kg) of A. afra demonstrated more potent effects by decreasing the carrageenaninduced paw swelling (p<0.001-0.05) during the 3 rd , 4 th , and 5 th h, by up to 38% when compared against saline-treated control group. Both the 200 and 400 mg/kg, A. afra doses achieved a significant increase (p<0.05) in reaction time in the hot plate test. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, pretreatment with A. afra (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced pain by 39% (p<0.01) by comparison with the saline control.Conclusion: Experimental data demonstrated that aqueous extract of A. afra possesses anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties in experimental acute inflammation and pain. These findings support the usage of A. afra in managing inflammation and pain in traditional practice.

A Review on Medicinal Plants Used in the Management of Headache in Africa

“…ex. Wild [124]. Similarly, Ocimum gratissimum L., a plant cultivated in both Ghana [125] and Madagascar [13] and used by local inhabitants to manage headache, reduced the pain response of albino rats considerably during a hot plate experimental study [126].…”

Research Advances on Health Effects of Edible Artemisia Species and Some Sesquiterpene Lactones Constituents

“…The result of this vast investigation showed the Artemisia species (extracts and essential oils) as exhibiting antiparasitic, anticancer and anti-inflammatory action in addition to antioxidant, wound healing, antinociceptive, immunoregulation, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-asthmatic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-adipogenic, anti-ulcerogenic, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-osteoporotic activities [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”