Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties of Annickia chlorantha aqueous stem bark extract.

Abstract

Annickia chlorantha is used in Cameroon to treat stomach problemsand many other diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate analgesic,anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties of aqueous stem bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (ASBEAC). These properties were tested on in vivo induced pain models by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid and paw injection of formaldehyde:25 rats were divided into 5 batches of 5 animals: negative control received distilled water (5 mL/kg), positive control received indomethacin (50 mg/kg) and three test groups received ASBEAC (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by in vitro method using membrane stabilization at different extract concentrations (25-1600 ug/mL).For non-ulcerogenic test, 20 rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals: negative control received distilled water (5 mL/kg), two test groups receivedASBEAC (250 and 500 mg/kg), and positive control received indomethacin (50 mg/kg).The results show that, ASBEAC significantly reduced (p< 0.001), with dose-dependent manner, the number of abdominal contortions with a maximum inhibition percentage (76.47%) at the dose of 500 mg/kg. Significant inhibition of pain(p<0.001), in a dose-dependent mode, for the pain test induced by paw injection of formaldehyde were also noted. With a maximum inhibition percentage of 40.69% and 30.35%, respectively for phases 1 and 2. For anti-inflammatory test,ASBEAC (200-1600 ug/mL) significantly (p <0.001) protected heat-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes.The non ulcerogenic test show that ASBEAC at all doses did not cause ulcer, but significantly increased and in a dose-dependent manner, themucus secretion. This study indicates that ASBEAC has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties.