Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Methanol Extracts OF Pistacia aethiopica (Kokwaro) and Warbugia ugandensis (Sprague) in Mice Models
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Date
2019
Authors
Ireri, Moses Munene
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Inflammation and pain are symptoms associated with many pathological conditions. These symptoms cause distress to the victims. Management of pain and inflammation is done by conventional drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which may be expensive, not easily available and cause adverse effects. Traditional medicines provide viable alternatives in the management of pain and inflammation. Traditional medicines are easily accessible, cheap with minimal side effects. Warbugia ugandensis Sprague and Pistacia aethiopica Kokwaro are medicinal plants, which have for long been used by people in Embu County as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs. In spite being in use for long, no scientific study has validated their use. This study was therefore designed to establish the claimed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of these plants. Fresh leaf samples of Warbugia ugandensis and fresh bark samples of Pistacia aethiopica were collected in Embu County, Kenya. The plant samples were then air dried after which they were transported to the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Biotechnology, Kenyatta University. The dry plant materials were then pulverized by electric mill. Crude methanol extracts were prepared using 1 litre methanol per 200g powder. Male albino mice were divided into six groups of 5 animals each; normal control, negative control, positive control and three experimental groups for extract dose levels of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg body weight. Analgesic studies used formalin model while anti-inflammation studies used carrageenan-induced acute edema model. Diclofenac was used as the positive control in analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies. Stem bark extracts of P. aethiopica inhibited paw licking in mice by between 47.24-55.13% in the early phase and by between 30.69-52.12% in the late phase. W. ugandensis leaf extracts inhibited paw licking by between 38.45-51.85% in the early phase and by between 43.48-65.61% in the late phase. Diclofenac inhibited paw licking by between 30.33-30.36% in the early phase and by between 62.93-77.08% in the late phase. For anti-inflammatory effects P. aethiopica extract suppressed carrageenan induced paw edema by between 4.6-7.6% while W. ugandensis suppressed paw edema by between 6.08-7.59%. Diclofenac suppressed carrageenan induced paw edema by between 8.86-9.57%. Qualitative phytoconstituents screening revealed presence of phenols, saponins, flavonoids alkaloids and terpenoids which have been previously linked to analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore the current study has validated folkloric use of P. aethiopica and W. ugandensis as remedies for pain and inflammation.
Description
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Science in Biotechnology in the School of Pure and Applied Sciences of Kenyatta University, September, 2019