title: Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Homalium letestui.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Homalium letestui Pellegr (Flacourtiaceae) is used in various decoctions traditionally by the Ibibios of the Niger Delta of Nigeria to treat stomach ulcer, malaria and other inflammatory diseases, as well as an aphrodisiac.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the stem extract of the plant.
  
  
  METHODS
  The ethanol stem extract (500, 750, 1000 mg/kg, i.p.) of H. letestui was investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan, egg albumin-induced and xylene-induced ear edema models and analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced paw licking and thermal-induced pain models. The ethanol extract was administered to the animals orally, 30 min to 1 h depending on the model, before induction of inflammation/pain. The LD50 was also determined. GC-MS analysis of dichloromethane fraction was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extract caused a significant (p < 0.05-0.001) reduction of inflammation induced by carrageenan (8.3-70.0%), egg albumin (10.0-71.42%) and xylene (39.39-84.84%). The extract also reduced significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) pain induced by acetic acid (44.22-73.65%), formalin (55.89-79.21%) and hot plate (93.0-214.5%). The LD50 was determined to be 4.38 ± 35.72 g/kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the ethanol stem extract of H. letestui possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which may in part be mediated through the chemical constituents of the plant as revealed by the GC-MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uyo , Uyo , Nigeria and.
authors.forename: Jude E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Okokon
authors.forename: Patience J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Okokon
authors.forename: Ahsana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dar Farooq
authors.forename: Mohammed Iqbal
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Choudhary
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D031308:Salicaceae; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol