Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Residual Aqueous Fraction of Carissa edulis Root Bark (Vahl) in Experimental Animals
Abstract
Background: Carissa edulis is a spiny evergreen shrub that may reach a height of 5 feet and an equal breadth. The bark is grey and smooth with straight woody double-pronged spine often in pairs. The plant is a native of South Africa. It grows in tropical African region and Arabia. It has been used in the traditional treatment of malaria, headache, glandular inflammation, rheumatism and chest complaints among others for many years and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of northern Nigeria. Hence, there need for verification of these folkloric claims.
Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the residual aqueous fraction of the ethanol root bark extract of C edulis in mice and rat models.
Methodology: Acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion test in mice were used to assess analgesic properties, while anti-inflammatory effect was tested using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats.
Results: The fraction (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) and standard drugs significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of writhes and prolonged the pain reaction time, in acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion models respectively. Similarly, the fraction (300 and 600 mg/kg) and ketoprofen (10 mg/kg) exhibited significant (p<0.05) decrease in the paw oedema at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour intervals, while at 150 mg/kg, the decrease was significant at only third hour.
Discussion: The study has shown that the residual aqueous fraction of C. edulis possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, thus, justified the traditional use of the plant in pain and inflammatory conditions.
Keywords: Carissa edulis, writhes, inflammation, analgesic, fraction
References
Agbaje EO and Fageyimbo MS (2012). Evaluating Anti-Inflammatory activity of aqueous root extract of Strophanthus hispidus DC. (Apocynaceae). Int. J. App. Res. Nat. Prod. 4: 7-14.
Besra SE, Sharma RM and Gomes A (1996). Anti-inflammatory effect of petroleum ether extract of leaves of Litchi Chinensis gaertn (Sapindacea). J. Ethnopharmacol. 54: 1-6.
Chandramu C, Manohar RD, Krupadanam DG and Dashavantha RV (2003). Isolation, characterization and biological activity of betulinic acid and ursolic acid from Vitex negundol. Phytother. Res. 17:129–34.
Ciulei L (1997). Methodologies for the analysis of vegetable drugs. UNIDO, Romani, Pp 68 – 70.
Collier HOJ, Dinneen LC, Johnson CA and Schneider C (1968). The abdominal constriction response and its suppression by 6 ISRN Pharmacology analgesic drugs in the mouse. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 32: 295–310.
El-Fiky FK, Abou-Karam MA and Afify EA (1996). Effect of Luffa aegyptiaca (seeds) and Carissa edulis (leaves) extracts on blood glucose level of normal and streptozotocin diabetic rats. J. Ethnopharmacol, 50: 43-47.
Gitahi SM, Kelvin JK, Maina MB, Murjithi NJ, Kiambi MJ, Umar A, John MK, Ann NW, David MN and Piero NM (2015). Antinociceptive properties of dichloromethane: methanolic leaf and root bark extracts of Carissa edulis in rats. J. Phytopharmacol. 4: 106 – 112.
Gepdiremen A, Mshvildadze V, Suleyman H and Elias R (2004). Acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effects of Hedera cochica in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 94:191-195.
Hassan HS, Sule MI, Musa MA, Emmanuel AA, Ibrahim H, Hassan AS and Yaro AH (2010). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the saponins extract of Carissa edulis root in rodents. Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 4: 1310-1317.
Howland RD and Mycek MJ (2006). Lippincott’s Illustration Review: Pharmacology. Harvey, RA, Champe PC (eds.) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishers London. pp. 157-168.
Ibrahim H, Abdurrahman EM and Shok M (2007). Comparative analgesic activity of the root bark, stem bark, leaves, fruits and seed of Carissa edulis Vahl (Apocynaceae). Afr.J. Biotech. 6:1233-1235.
Ibrahim H, Bolaji RO and Abdulrahman EM (2005). Preliminary phytochemical and antimicrobial studies of the leaves of Carissa edulis. Chemclass J. 2:15-218.
Iwueke AV, Nwodo OFC and Okoli CO (2006). Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Vitex doniana leaves. Afr.J. Biotech. 5 : 1929-1935.
Jamilu Y, Yaro AH, Abubakar MS, Hussaini IM and Anuka JA (2007). Studies on anticonvulsant activity of fractions of hydro-alcoholic root bark extract of Carissa edulis (Vahl). Nig. J. Pharm. Sci. 6:59-64
Just MJ, Racio MC, Giner RM, Cuellar MJ, Manez S and Bilia AR (1998). Anti-inflammatory activity of unusual lupane saponins from Bupleurum fruticescence. Planta Med. 64: 404 – 407.
Koster R, Anderson M and Debeer EJ (1959). Acetic acid for analgesic screening. Fed. Proc, 18:412-417.
Kumbhare M and Sivakumar T (2011). Antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of stem bark of Moringa oleifera. Pharmacol Online. 3: 641-650.
McCurdy CR and Scully SS (2005). Analgesic substances derived from natural products (Natureceuticals). Life Sci. 78: 476–484.
Msonthi JD (1986). The status of medicinal plant research and traditional medicine in Malawi. In: Sofowora A, ed. The State of Medicinal Plant Research in Nigeria. Proceedings of the Workshop Organized by African Biosciences Network. Nigeria: University Press Ltd. Ife, 335-350.
Nedi T, Mekonneni N and Urga K (2004). Diuretic effect of the crude extract of Carissa edulis in rats. J. Ethnopharmacol. 95:57–61.
Ngulde SI, Sandabe UK, Barkindo AA, Tijjani MB and Hussaini IM (2013). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of Carissa edulis Vahl. root bark in rats and mice. Int. J. Mod. Biol. Med. 4: 85 – 95.
Perianayagam JB, Sharma SK and Pillai KK (2006). Anti-inflammatory activity of Trichodesma indicum root extract in experimental animals. J. Ethnopharmacol, 104: 410-414.
Ramirez AM, Cotera LBF and Gutierrez RMZ (2013). Anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane extract of byrsonimacrassi folia seeds in experimental animal models. Alter. Ther, 19: 26-36.
Ravalli M, Cevallos-Arellano E and Balakrishnan S (2015). Investigation of centrally and peripherally acting analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of biological immune response modulator (an Amazonian plant extract) in animal models of pain and inflammation. Int. J. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. 4:342-348.
Sudipta S, Tanmoy G, Tanushree S and Tapan KM (2013). Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Centella asiatica Linn ISRN Pharmacol. DOI: 10.1155/2013/789613.
Tolo FM (2006). Antiviral activity of the extracts of Kenyan medicinal plant Carissa edulis against Herpes simplex virus. J. Ethnopharmacol. 104:92-99.
Uma-Devi P, Ganasoundari A, Rao SB and Sriivasan KK (1999). In vivo radioprotection by Ocimum flavonoids: Survival of mice. Rad. Res. 151:74–78.
Vongtau HO, Amos S, Binda L, Kapu SD, Gamaniel KS, Kunle OF and Wambebe C (2000). Pharmacological effects of the aqueous extract of Neurotaenia mitis in rodents. J. Ethnopharmacol. 72: 207-214.
Winter CA, Riselay E.A and Nuss GW (1962). Carrageenan induced oedema in the hind paw of the rats as an assay for anti – inflammatory drugs. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 111: 544-547.
Ya’u J, Abdulmalik UN, Yaro AH, Anuka JA and Hussaini IM (2011). Behavioral properties of Balanites aegyptiaca in rodents. J. Ethnopharmacol, 135:725-729.
Ya’u J, Malami S, Musa MA, Bako Z, Moustapha M and Yaro AH (2017). Antipsychotic and Sedative Effects of the Aqueous Fraction of Ethanol Extract of Carissa edulis (Vahl) Root Bark. J. Pharm. Biores. 14: 113 - 120.
Ya’u J, Yaro AH, Malami S, Musa MA, Abubakar A, Yahaya SM, Chindo BA, Anuka JA and Hussaini, IM (2015). Anticonvulsant activity of aqueous fraction of Carissa edulis root bark. Pharm. Biol. 53:1329-1338.
Full Text: PDF
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.