Anti-Inflammatory Constituents of Alchornea cordifolia Leaves

Abstract

Alchornea cordifolia (Schum and Thonn) Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) is a traditional medicinal plant widely distributed in West Africa including Nigeria.The plant has been used for ethnomedicinal purposes against wounds, ulcers, and sores. The decoction of the leaves has been reported to provide remedies for bronchial problems, rheumatic pain and cough. From the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate soluble parts of the Methanol leaf extract, two compounds namely Lup-20(29)-en-3c-ol (lupenol) and Methyl 3, 4,5-trihydroxy benzoate (Methyl gallate) were isolated and their structures elucidated. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the compounds on carrageenan-induced paw oedema and formalin-induced pain in rats showed that compound 2 significantly (P<0.05) inhibit rat paw oedema compared to the standard drugs (Piroxicam and Morphine) used, while on formalin-induced pain in rats, the same trend was observed and were both comparable to Piroxicam and morphine, the standard anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents used, respectively. Compound 1 did not show any significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to control, likewise compound 2. Thus, compound 2, Methyl trihydroxy benzoate, might be responsible for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of this plant.

Keywords: Alchornea cordifolia, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Methyl Trihydroxy Benzoate