Antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of dichloromethane stem bark extract of Acacia mellifera

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the in vivo antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effect of the dichloromethane stem bark extract of Acacia mellifera on experimental animal model at three different dose levels of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight respectively. In addition, phytochemical screening of the extract was done. The inflammatory effect was evaluated by use of carragenaan-induced paw edema in mice, pain was determined using formalin-induced writhing in mice and pyrexia was determined by turpentine-induced pyrexia in rats. The activity of the herbal extract was compared to diclofenac sodium and aspirin. The phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoid, saponins, steroids, terpenoids, tannins and phenolics. The plant extract produced marked anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenaninduced mice paw edema assay, suppressed licking response of animals in both phases of the formalin- induced test and exhibited appreciable antipyretic effects in turpentine-induced pyrexia in rats. The study thus supports the folklore use of the plant in the treatment and management of inflammation, pain and pyrexia.