 Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Schumanniophyton Magnificum Leaves

Abstract

This study was aimed at evaluating the possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanol extract of the leaves of S. magnificum. The extractive yield obtained from the methanol crude extract was 07.02 %. The C composition showed the presence of bioactive compounds such as tannins, phenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids. The acute toxicity test showed no lethality or behavioural changes at 5000 mg/kg b.w. The egg albumin-induced acute inflammation showed significant (p < 0.05) decrease in paw volume of rats treated with the extract and ibuprofen compared with group 1 treated with 2ml/kg of 3% Tween-80. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in paw diameter was observed in extract treated groups compared with group 2 (induced but not treated) after 10 days of treatment in formaldehyde-induced sub-chronic inflammation. There were significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory activities of phospholipase A2 and membrane haemolysis subjected to hypotonic stress by the extract, partitions and fractions, when compared with that of standard drugs, prednisolone and indomethacin. The extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited platelet aggregation compared with indomethacin. The extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) free radical-scavenging activities in all concentrations in a manner comparable with ascorbic acid. However, low ferric reducing capacity was observed in the extract when compared with gallic acid. The extract exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent inhibition of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in rats compared with indomethacin. The extract caused a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in in vivo leukocyte migration induced by agar when compared with indomethacin. There was significant (p < 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde concentration in both extract and standard drug groups compared with group 2 treated with 2ml/kg of 3% Tween-80. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in Hb, RBC, WBC and PCV and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in platelet count in all extract treated groups as well as the standard drug groups when compared with group 2. Extract treated groups significantly (p < 0.05) decreased AST, ALT and ALP activities compared with group 2. The extract treated groups significantly (p < 0.05) decreased cholesterol, TAG and LDL concentrations and significantly (p < 0.05) increased HDL concentration when compared with group 2. The extract produced a significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent reduction in the number of abdominal constriction induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in mice when compared with aspirin. A significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent elevation of the post-treatment reaction time and pain reaction time to thermal pain was evident in the extract treated animals comparable to that produced by 10 mg/kg of pentazocine. The extract at 400 mg/kg showed higher activity in most determinations. In the FTIR spectroscopic studies, the most active fraction (fraction 1) revealed the presence of these functional groups: amines, phenols, carboxylic acids, alcohols, alkenes, alkanes, esters and nitrites. The GCMS result of fraction 1 confirmed the presence of 10 compounds with Hexadecanoic acid, 2-methyl-, methyl ester (24.906%) identified as the major peak. The result of this study revealed that S. magnificum leaves possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and analgesic activities, as well as the potential to restore the concentrations of other biochemical parameters generated during inflammation and oxidative stress. This result could be attributed to the abundant phytoconstituents present in the plant.