Anti-inflammatory Activity of Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume

Abstract

Background: Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume which belongs to the Amarantheceae family is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of chest troubles, dysentery, diarrhea, skin ulcers, scabies, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tumours and inflammations amongst many others. The growing concerns associated with the incidence of reactive free-radicals widely implicated in many health conditions prompted this present study.

Objectives: The crude extract, fractions and two previosly isolated compounds (HOO-1and HOO-2) from the plant were to be screened for anti-inflammatory activities with the aim of confirming or disproving its uses such as wound healing, treating skin ulcers and rheumatism amongst many others.

Methodology: The xylene and chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) models were employed in the determination of  the anti-inflammatory activity of  the plant.

Results and Discussion: The xylene-model test for anti-inflammatory activity showed that the ethyl-acetate fraction and HOO-2 gave moderately similar anti-inflammatory activity of 53.48 % while HOO-1was comparably less active at 30.20 %. The chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model also indicated that both the ethyl-acetate fraction and HOO-2 gave moderate anti-inflammatory activity of 52.00 % while HOO-1 was less active at 44.00 %. However, the other fractions were weakly active. These results obtained from this study were not surprising because the phytochemical screening of the extract indicated the presence of flavonoids and terpenes which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities in previous studies. Furthermore, the results show some consistency irrespective of the model used.

Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have lent scientific justification to the folklore uses of the plant in treating and managing inflammatory conditions.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory; xylene-model; chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM); Cyathula prostrata