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Published:
Feb 24, 2023Keywords:
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Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of roots aqueous extract of <i>Pseudospondias microcarpa</i> (A. Rich.) Engl. (Anarcadiaceae) in mice and rats
Abstract
Background: Pseudospondias microcarpa (P. microcarpa) is a tree belonging to the family Arnacardiaceae. This species is used in traditional medicine to treat pain, inflammation, malaria, and skin diseases. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the aqueous extract of P. microcarpa roots.
Methods: Swiss mice and Wistar albino rats were used for the study. The aqueous extract (100, 300, and 600 mg/kg), standards, and water were administered by intragastric route. Pain was induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (1%, 10 mL/kg) or formalin paw injection (1%, 20 μL) solutions. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried out in experimental animals’ models of acute inflammation using carrageenan (1%, 0.1mL) and arachidonic acid (0.1 mL, 0.2 M).
Results: The results showed that aqueous extract significantly inhibited (P < 0.001) the pain induced by acetic acid with 60.77% at the dose of 600 mg/kg. This dose of 600 mg/ kg also significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the neurogenic phase (50.81%) and the inflammatory phase (63.87%) of formalin-induced pain. In the inflammatory test, the aqueous extract of the roots of P. microcarpa significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema at all hours with a maximum inhibition percentage of 79.40% (4h) at the dose of 600 mg/kg. Arachidonic acid-induced paw edema was significantly inhibited (P ˂ 0.001) by the aqueous extract. The maximum inhibition was 82.35% at 600 mg/kg.
Conclusion: These results sufficiently demonstrate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory power of the aqueous extract of P. microcarpa. It should be noted that the analgesic property is both central and peripheral whereas the anti-inflammatory effect would be exerted by the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways. This justifies the use of this plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of pain and inflammation.
