Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A. Mey. (Hypoxidaceae) corm ['African Potato'] aqueous extract in mice and rats.
In order to scientifically appraise some of the anecdotal, folkloric, ethnomedical uses of Hypoxis hemerocallidea Fisch. & C.A. Mey. (Hypoxidaceae) corm ['African Potato'], the present study was undertaken to examine the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties of the corm's aqueous extract (APE) in mice and rats. The antinociceptive effect of APE was evaluated by 'hot-plate' and 'acetic acid' analgesic test methods in mice; while 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 models. Morphine (MPN, 10 mg/kg), diclofenac (DIC, 100 mg/kg) and chlorpropamide (250 mg/kg) were used as reference drugs for comparison. H. hemerocallidea corm aqueous extract (APE, 50-800 mg/kg i.p.) produced dose-dependent, significant (P < 0.05-0.001) antinociceptive effects against thermally- and chemically-induced nociceptive pain stimuli in mice. The plant extract (APE, 50-800 mg/kg p.o.) also significantly (P < 0.05-0.001) inhibited fresh egg albumin-induced acute inflammation, and caused dose-related, significant (P < 0.05-0.001) hypoglycaemia in normal (normoglycaemic) and diabetic rats. The results obtained in this study suggest that the antinociceptive effects of the plant's extract are peripherally- and centrally-mediated. The findings of this experimental animal study indicate that H. hemerocallidea corm aqueous extract (APE) possesses antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties; and thus lend pharmacological support to folkloric, anecdotal uses of 'African Potato' in the treatment and/or management of painful, arthritic inflammatory conditions, as well as in the management and/or control of type-2 diabetes mellitus in some parts of southern Africa.
Ojewole
John A O
JA
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. ojewolej@ukzn.ac.za
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027802:Hypoxis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013311:Streptozocin