Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous fruit pulp extract of Hunteria umbellata K. Schum in acute and chronic inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous fruit pulp extract of Hunteria umbellata K. Schum (Apocynaceae) was evaluated using the carrageenan- and dextran-induced rat paw edema, xylene-induced ear edema and formalin-induced arthritis inflammation tests. Oral administration of the extract produced significant (p < 0.05) antiedematogenic effect with a dose of 500 mg/kg throughout the period of the experiment in the dextran induced paw edema and at the 3 h in the carrageenan model. The extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) exhibited a dose-related and significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of xylene induced ear edema and the effect was similar to that produced by dexamethasone (1 mg/kg). In the chronic inflammation (formalin induced arthritis) the extract did not show any significant anti-inflammatory activity. Oral acute toxicity assays did not show any mortality at 15 g/kg of the plant extract. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of H. umbellata possesses acute inflammatory activity which may be mediated by either inhibition or by blocking the release of prostaglandins and histamine, thus supporting the usage of the plant in traditional medicine treatment of inflammation.
Igbe
Ighodaro
I
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City 300001, Nigeria. igbero2002@yahoo.com
Ching
Fidelis P
FP
Eromon
Aigbe
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D029062:Apocynaceae; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002351:Carrageenan; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005638:Fruit; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors; D014992:Xylenes
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014992:Xylenes; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002351:Carrageenan