http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v11i6.14
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the anti-inflammatory
and analgesic activities of the Amorphophallus Bulbifer
in Wistar rats and mice.
Methods: The anti-inflammatory activity of
the hydroalcohol extract of A. bulbifer whole plant at
dose levels of 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o. in rats was
determined with a plethysmograph paw volume difference
of the animals pre- and post-treatment. Ibuprofen (10
mg/kg) was employed as reference standard. Analgesic
activity was evaluated using tail flick and tail
immersion techniques, by measuring the reaction time of
the animals treated with either standard or extract.
Pentazocin (30 mg/kg) was used as reference standard.
Results: The extract showed significant
anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at the two
test dose levels at the 4th hour (p < 0.001).
The extract exhibited anti inflammatory activity of 56.5
(p < 0.001) and 57.1 % (p < 0.001) inhibition compared
to the control group in the carrageenan and
histamine-induced inflammation model at a dose of 200
mg/kg. For analgesic activity, the extract showed
reaction times of 7.33 (p < 0.001) and 7.83 (p < 0.001)
min in the tail flick and tail immersion models,
respectively, at a dose of 200 mg/kg while the normal
and reference groups exhibited reaction times of 2.16,
2.66 and 8.16 (p < 0.001) and 8.5 (p < 0.001) in the
tail flick and tail immersion methods, respectively.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be
concluded that Amorphophallus bulbifer possesses
anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and this
lends some support for its use in traditional medical
practice.
Keywords: Amorphophallus bulbifer, Anti-inflammatory
activity, Analgesic activity