title: Anti-inflammatory activity of Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. Ex Engl. ethanolic leaf extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum (Bignoniaceae) are used traditionally for the treatment of oedema and rheumatoid arthritis in Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Markhamia tomentosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract was screened using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats, xylene-induced oedema in mice and the formalin-induced oedema in mice at 50, 100, 200mg/kg doses p.o respectively. The mechanism by which the extract mediated the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the histamine-induced rat paw oedema and serotonin-induced rat paw oedema at the highest dose (200mg/kg).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the extract produced a significant dose-dependent inhibition in carrageenan-induced, xylene-induced and the formalin tests. The extract exerted a significant inhibition of 54.55% (P<0.0001) and 42.11% (P<0.01) at 90 min in the histamine-induced and serotonin-induced rat paw oedema models respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the ethanolic leaf extract of Markhamia tomentosa possesses anti-inflammatory activity possibly mediated by histamine. The results justify the use of the plant in the preparation of ethno medicines used in the treatment of ailments associated with inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, College of Medicine Campus, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. bimsowemi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abimbola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowemimo
authors.forename: Femi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.forename: Muyiwa Samuel
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fageyinbo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D029402:Bignoniaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009549:Nigeria; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Carrageenan-induced paw oedema; Histamine-induced paw oedema; Markhamia tomentosa; Serotonin-induced paw oedema; Xylene-induced paw oedema