Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the crude extracts from stem bark of Bauhinia guianensis

Abstract

Methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts from the stem bark of Bauhinia guianensis (Leguminosae, Caesalpinoideae) were obtained. These extracts were evaluated for antiinflammatory activity which was conducted using carrageenin, dextran and histamine-induced paw edema in rats. The extracts of B. guianensis were also assessed for analgesic activity which was conducted using the writhing test in mouse. The different animal groups were treated with these extracts (100 mg/kg i.p. and p.o, IC50) 30 min prior to the application of stimuli. The methanolic extract demonstrated significant inhibition in the carrageenin-induced edema model. In the dextran-induced edema model, all three extracts inhibited the inflammatory process significantly, with the methanolic extract being the most active. The ethyl acetate extract was the only one shown to be effective in the histamine-induced edema model. Finally, all extracts inhibited effectively the algogenic process in the writhing test induced by acetic acid.