Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of amorphophallus bulbifer (roxb) kunth whole plant

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 antiinflammatory and analgesic properties and this lends some support for its use in traditional medical practice. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved.