title: Bioactivity guided isolation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory constituents of Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) root.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cnestis ferruginea (CF) Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae) is a shrub widely used in Traditional African Medicine (TAM) for the treatment of various painful and inflammatory conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To isolate the active pharmacological constituents responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the methanolic root extract of C. ferruginea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The crude methanolic root extract of CF was sequentially fractionated into four sub extracts (chloroform, ethylacetate, n-butanol and the remaining aqueous fraction). The aqueous-butanol fractions, having showed significant inhibition of inflammation and pain, were subjected to fractionation through successive column chromatography on silica gel 60-120 mesh, eluted with a gradient of CHCl(3)-MeOH. Sixty five fractions were collected; fractions with similar TLC profiles were grouped into seven major fractions (1-7). Fraction 4 being the most active in bioassay was rechromatographed to obtain CF-2. Analgesic activity was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests in mice while carrageenan induced paw oedema test was used to investigate the anti-inflammatory actions of the fractions obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amentoflavone (CF-2) was isolated from the aqueous/n-butanol fraction. CF-2 (12.5, 25 and 100 mg/kg; p.o) produced significant (P<0.05) dose dependent inhibition of pain response elicited by acetic acid and increased nociceptive reaction latency in hot plate test. In addition it produced significant (P<0.05) dose-dependent inhibition of oedema in the carrageenan-induced inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that amentoflavone is responsible for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Cnestis ferruginea.
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: Oluwatoyin E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Agbaje
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narender
authors.forename: Olufunmilayo O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Adeyemi
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shukla
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000349:Africa; D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044946:Biflavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D031961:Connaraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018517:Plant Roots; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D044946:Biflavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan; C011164:amentoflavone; D019342:Acetic Acid