Anti-oedematous and antinociceptive activities assessment of stem bark aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) in rat and mice

Abstract

Background: Ficus exasperata Vahl. (Moraceae) is widely used in African traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study is undertaken to assess the anti-oedematous and antinociceptive activities of the stem bark aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata in mice and rats.

Methods: The anti-oedematous activity was investigated following carrageenan or histamine-induced rat paw oedema models.  Antinociceptive activity was evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing test (1 %, 10 ml/kg), capsaicin-induced neurogenic pain (32 µg/mL, 30 µL) and formalin-induced test (1%, 20 µL). Extract was administrated orally at 37.5, 75 and 150 mg/kg.

Results: Pre-treatment of rats with Ficus exasperata stem bark aqueous extract exhibited significant inhibition of paw oedema during all the phases of both carrageenan and histamine induced edema in rat. The maximum inhibition percentages were 94.75 % (3 h) and 30.64 % after one hour at the dose of 37.5 mg/kg, respectively, in carrageenan or histamine models. Antinociceptive activity showed that aqueous extract reduced significantly (p < 0.001) the pain induced by acetic acid with an inhibition percentage of 70.8% (150 mg/kg). In the formalin-induced test, the extract also reduced significantly (p < 0.001) licking time during neurogenic phase and inflammatory phase with inhibition percentages of 44.75% and 52.78% respectively at the dose of 75 and 150 mg/kg. In addition, aqueous extract of F. exasperata reduced significantly (p < 0.001) neurogenic pain induced by capsaïcin by 71.28 % at the highest dose (150 mg/kg).

Conclusion: This finding suggests that the stem bark aqueous extract of Ficus exasperata possess potent anti-oedematous and antinociceptive activities.