Abstract
The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract of Parinari kerstingii leaves was investigated using egg albumin-induced rat paw oedema, leukocyte mobilization, and acetic acid-induced vascular permeability assay methods. Heat and hypotonicity-induced heamolysis of human red blood cell membrane were also used to assess its membrane stabilizing effect and to determine its inhibitory property on phospholipase A2 activity. Acute toxicity and phytochemical tests were also determined using standard methods. The methanol crude extract (MCE) of P. kerstingii reduced (p<0.05) the acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and increased agar-induced leukocyte mobilization in rats dose-dependently. Vascular permeability was inhibited by 24.85, 26.04 and 48.52% with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the MCE, respectively. The total leukocyte count of the treated groups increased significantly (p<0.05) relative to the control group. The percentage membrane stability exhibited by the MCE was comparable with drug control, indomethacin. The MCE contains principles that protected the erythrocyte membranes effectively. More so, the extract inhibited (p<0.05) the activities of phospholipase A2 and showed no significant difference in the phospholipase A2 inhibitory effect as compared to the standard drug, prednisolone. The extract showed no toxicity at 5000 mg/kg. Phytochemical screenings revealed the presence of tannins, saponins, reducing sugars, phenols, soluble carbohydrates, alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, hydrogen cyanide glycosides and flavonoids. This study indicated that the MCE of P. kerstingii leaf is relatively safe for consumption and has anti-inflammatory property. Also, it could prevent the haemolysis of human erythrocyte membrane. Key words: Anti-inflammatory, Parinari kerstingii, acute toxicity, phytochemicals, membrane stability.
Highlights
Inflammation is a complex physiological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli and the body’s protective mechanism to eradicate noxious stimuli and promote tissue repairs (Ferrero-Miliani et al, 2007)
There is no scientific report on the folkloric use of P. kerstingii, this research documented the observed anti-inflammatory effect of the methanol crude extract (MCE) of the leaves of the plant in rats
Some of the constituents of the extract have been documented to possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities (Park et al, 2001; Okoli et al, 2007).The presence of flavonoids in the leaf of P. kerstingii could account for its use as an antinflammatory agent as reported by Ekwueme et al (2011), prevention of damage caused by free radicals in the body (Dweck and Mitchell, 2002), treatment of diarrhoea (Schuier et al, 2005), P. kerstingii leaves, due to its flavonoid content could be used as antipyretic, analgesic and spasmolytic agents
Summary
Inflammation is a complex physiological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli and the body’s protective mechanism to eradicate noxious stimuli and promote tissue repairs (Ferrero-Miliani et al, 2007). Is an evergreen plant of the genus Parinari and family Rosaceae growing up to the height of 20 m with ovoid shaped fruit and is widely distributed in tropical West Africa (Burkill, 1997). It is variously called aramon (Ivory Coast), kakyiki (Ghana), ningelia (Togo), okpe (Yoruba-Ife of Togo), and i ayi (Nigeria: Hausa). There is no scientific report on the folkloric use of P. kerstingii, this research documented the observed anti-inflammatory effect of the MCE of the leaves of the plant in rats
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