title: Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Crassulaceae) leaf aqueous extract.
abstract: In order to scientifically appraise some of the ethnomedical uses of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves, the present study was undertaken to investigate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties of the plant's leaf aqueous extract in experimental animal models. The antinociceptive effect of the herb's leaf extract was evaluated by the 'hot-plate' and 'acetic acid' test models of pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of the plant's extract were investigated in rats, using fresh egg albumin-induced pedal (paw) oedema, and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus. Diclofenac (DIC, 100 mg/kg) and chlorpropamide (250 mg/kg) were used respectively as reference drugs for comparison. Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf aqueous extract (BPE, 25-800 mg/kg i.p.) produced significant (P<0.05-0.001) antinociceptive effects against thermally- and chemically-induced nociceptive pain stimuli in mice. The plant extract (BPE, 25-800 mg/kg p.o. or i.p.) also significantly (P<0.05-0.001) inhibited fresh egg albumin-induced acute inflammation and caused significant (P<0.05-0.001) hypoglycaemia in rats. The results of this experimental animal study suggest that Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf aqueous extract possesses antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and hypoglycaemic properties. The different flavonoids, polyphenols, triterpenoids and other chemical constituents of the herb are speculated to account for the observed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties of the plant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa. ojewolej@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: John A O
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ojewole
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D029627:Crassulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009549:Nigeria; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019342:Acetic Acid