Phytochemical and Anti-Inflammatory Analysis of Prunus africana Bark Extract
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Date
2020
Authors
Mutuma, Gitonga Godfrey
Ngeranwa, Joseph
Machocho, Alex King’ori
Kiruki, Silas
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Abstract
Background and objectives: Inflammation is associated with various diseases; Prunus africana
(Hook f.) is commonly used in Meru community of Kenya in management of inflammation. Medicinal
plants contain phytochemicals associated with pharmacological activities; so, the aim of the present
study was evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of Prunus africana bark extract and qualitative
analysis phytochemical of its phytochemicals. Methods: Five hundred mg of the powdered P.
africana stem bark was extracted using 1.5 liters of dichloromethane for 24 h. The anti- inflammatory
activity was evaluated against carrageenan paw induced edema in mice. The ability of the extracts to
suppress the paw inflammation was expressed as a percentage inhibition of paw edema in five groups
each comprising of five mice. Group I was treated with DMSO, group II with diclofenac (100 mg/Kg)
and experimental groups III, IV and V with 50, 100 and 150 mg/Kg of the plant extract. The ability of
the extracts to suppress the paw inflammation was expressed as a percentage inhibition of paw edema
in mice. The qualitative phytochemical analysis was conducted using the standard protocols. Results:
The percentages paw edema inhibition after the 4th h in the positive control and the experimental
groups I, II and III were 13.61, 32.85, 25.15 and 5.92%, respectively. The qualitative evaluation of
stem bark extract illustrated presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, cardiac
glycosides, terpenoids, phenolics and coumarins. Conclusion: Dichloromethane stem bark extract of
the P. africana presented anti-inflammatory activity hence a possible candidate for extraction of active
anti-inflammatory compounds.
Description
A research article published in Research Journal of Pharmacognosy
Keywords
diclofenac, inflammation, mice, phytochemistry, Prunus africana
Citation
Mutuma GG, Joseph N, King’ori MA, Silas K. Phytochemical and anti-inflammatory analysis of Prunus africana bark extract. Res J Pharmacogn. 2020; 7(4): 31-38.