Anti-inflammatory activity of hexane leaf extract of Aspilia africana C.D. Adams

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 109; no. 2; pp. 219 - 225
• Main Authors: Okoli, C.O., Akah, P.A., Nwafor, S.V., Anisiobi, A.I., Ibegbunam, I.N., Erojikwe, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 19.01.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Animals; Anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Arthritis - drug therapy; Aspilia africana; Asteraceae - chemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Ear - pathology; Edema - drug therapy; Female; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; General pharmacology; Hexane leaf extract; Hexanes - chemistry; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Prostaglandins - metabolism; Rats; Stomach Ulcer - drug therapy; Stomach Ulcer - pathology; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - pharmacology; Aspilia africana; Anti-inflammatory activity; Hexane leaf extract; Pharmacognosy; Antiinflammatory agent; Plant origin; Extract; Plant leaf; Medicinal plant
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.07.037

The anti-inflammatory activity of hexane leaf extract of Aspilia africana C.D. Adams (Compositae) was evaluated in rodents using the xylene-induced ear edema, egg albumin- and agar-induced paw edema, formaldehyde-induced arthritis, cotton pellet granuloma, gastric ulcerogenic, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and dextran-induced in vivo leukocyte migration tests. Results showed that the extract (5 mg/ear) inhibited topical edema in the mouse ear and at 200 and 400 mg/kg (i.p.), it significantly ( P < 0.05) suppressed the development of egg albumin- and agar-induced paw edema, and the global edematous response to arthritis induced by formaldehyde in rats. Oral administration of the extract (200 or 400 mg/kg) evoked a significant ( P < 0.05) dose-related ulceration of the rat gastric mucosa and inhibition of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice. The extract also significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced total leukocyte and neutrophils counts in a non-dose-related manner. However, it significantly ( P < 0.05) increased lymphocyte counts and stimulated the growth of granuloma tissues induced by subcutaneously implanted cotton pellets in rats. Phytochemical tests showed that the extract contained sterols and terpenoids. These findings suggest that the leaves of Aspilia africana possess anti-inflammatory activity in acute and certain aspects of chronic inflammation, which may derive from inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis, inhibition of increased vascular permeability, inhibition of neutrophil migration into inflamed tissues, and stimulation of lymphocyte accumulation, which may enhance tissue repair and healing. The terpenoids present in the leaves may account for the anti-inflammatory activity.