Abstract
Crude aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum xanthozyloides is used locally to treat inflammatory conditions. Previous study confirmed that the extract has anti-inflammatory activity and also reduced vascular response in inflammation. To identify the effect of the extract on migration of white blood cells to the site of inflammation. The extract was obtained by Soxhlet extraction and rotatory evaporation, followed by freeze-drying. Cohorts of Wistar rats (150g - 200g) were randomly assigned to 6 treatment cells, and were given, per os, three different treatments: indomethacin (20mg/kg and 40mg/kg), the extract (2000mg/kg and 4000mg/kg), and 0.9% saline (two groups of control). Inflammation was induced with carrageenin in the hind paw of the treated groups of rats and one group of the control (positive control), one hour after treatment. Inflammatory exudates from the inflamed paws were collected and the white blood cells (WBCs) counted. Carrageenin increased the total WBC count (in the paw fluid) which was reduced by the extract and indomethacin (p<0.05). Neither the extract nor indomethacin had any effect on total WBC count in the non-carrageenin treated control rats. The extract did not affect the pre-existing WBC population at the site of inflammation but rather inhibited migration of the cells to the site.
Highlights
Crude aqueous extract of the root bark of Z. xanthoxyloides is used widely in Ghana and Nigeria for treating various inflammatory conditions.[1]
As an anti-inflammatory agent, the extract has been found to reduce vascular response in inflammation.[3]. Since it is common for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to interrupt the inflammatory process at more than one step[4], it became necessary to explore further the mechanism(s) underlying the antiinflammatory activity of the extract
The carrageenin-induced increase in total white blood cells (WBCs) count in the inflammatory exudates of the rat paw is consistent with the fact that increase in WBC population occurs at the site of inflammation
Summary
Crude aqueous extract of the root bark of Z. xanthoxyloides is used widely in Ghana and Nigeria for treating various inflammatory conditions.[1]. As an anti-inflammatory agent, the extract has been found to reduce vascular response in inflammation.[3] Since it is common for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to interrupt the inflammatory process at more than one step[4], it became necessary to explore further the mechanism(s) underlying the antiinflammatory activity of the extract. A plausible mechanism, aside modification of the vascular response, is modulation of recruitment of inflammatory cells at the site of inflammation. A drug that interrupts the inflammatory process at this level (recruitment) would be expected to reduce WBC count in inflammatory exudates. The study was undertaken to identify the effect of the extract on WBC count in inflammatory exudates and, by inference, the migration of WBCs to the site of inflammation
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