Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Crassulaceae) leaf aqueous extract.
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.
Ojewole
John A O
JA
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa. ojewolej@ukzn.ac.za
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
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019342:Acetic Acid