title: Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) methanolic root extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in traditional African Medicine (TAM) for the treatment of various painful and inflammatory conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the methanolic root extract of Cnestis ferruginea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analgesic activity was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, tail clip, and hot plate tests in mice. The carrageenan- and egg albumin-induced rat paw oedema, formaldehyde-induced arthritis inflammation, and xylene-induced ear oedema tests were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory actions of Cnestis ferruginea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The methanolic root extract of Cnestis ferruginea (100, 200, and 400mg/kg; p.o.) produced significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent inhibition of pain response elicited by acetic acid and formalin while also increasing the nociceptive reaction latency in the tail clip and hot plate tests. In respect of anti-inflammatory activity, Cnestis ferruginea caused significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent inhibition of oedema development in the carrageenan, egg albumin, formaldehyde, and xylene-induced inflammation tests. The effects of the extract in the various models were generally comparable to those of the standard drugs used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings in this study suggest that the methanolic root extract of Cnestis ferruginea possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities possibly mediated through peripheral and central mechanisms involving inhibition of release and/or actions of vasoactive substances (histamine, serotonin and kinins) and prostaglandins. The results justify the use of the extract in TAM for the treatment of painful and inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ismail O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ishola
authors.forename: Abidemi J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Akindele
authors.forename: Olufunmilayo O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D031961:Connaraceae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan