Evaluation of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves for anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activities.
BACKGROUND
Felicia muricata Thunb. (Nees) (Asteraceae) leaves are used in folklore medicine of South Africa as an oral remedy for pain and inflammation. However, the efficacy of the plant part is yet to be validated with scientific experiments.


OBJECTIVE
The current study is an effort to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activities of aqueous extract of F. muricata leaves.


METHODS
The phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves and the efficacy of the extract at the doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight was investigated in experimental animals using several models of inflammation (paw edema induced by carrageenan and egg albumin), nociception (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain and tail immersion), and fever (brewer's yeast-induced hyperthermia).


RESULTS
The extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolics. The extract dose-dependently reduced (P <0.05) the number of writhes and stretches induced by acetic acid, number of licks induced by formalin, paw volumes induced by carrageenan and egg albumin. The reaction time by the tail of the extract-treated animals to the hot water also increased. The extract also reduced hyperthermia induced by brewer's yeast. The highest dose (200 mg/kg body weight of the extract) produced the best result in all cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that the aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves possessed anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic activities. These findings have therefore supported the use of aqueous extract of Felicia muricata leaves in the traditional medicine of South Africa as an oral remedy for pains, inflammation, and fever.
Ashafa
Anofi Omotayo Tom
AO
Department of Botany, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.
Yakubu
Musa Toyin
MT
Grierson
Don Scott
DS
Afolayan
Anthony Jide
AJ
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058633:Antipyretics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D055808:Drug Discovery; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D010147:Pain Measurement; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D058633:Antipyretics; D010936:Plant Extracts