A pharmacological evaluation of a herbal cocktail

Abstract

An herbal cocktail comprising of seeds, stem and leaves of seven African plants extensively used in South-Western Nigeria for the management and treatment of inflammation and tumor of the breast was investigated for analgesic and anti-inflammation activities. The analgesic properties of the ethanol extract was investigated using three in vivo mice test models (mice constriction, hot-plate and formalin-induced pain test) while anti-inflammatory activities of the same were evaluated using the Carageenan and egg albumin-induced oedema test systems in vivo. Present findings indicated that the cocktail at a concentration of 400-1600 mg kg-1 produced significant inhibition (p<0.05) response in both phases of the formalin pain model. The acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction also showed a dose dependent pain inhibition pattern directly related to the amount of extract administered. Instructively, the extract exhibited higher analgesic activity than acetylsalicylic acid but lower than morphine (2 mg kg-1). The cocktail (400-1600 mg kg-1) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity but inhibition observed at 1600 mg kg-1 in the 5 and 6 h was very significant. It compared favourably with the reference drug (Indomethacin 10 mg k-1). Consequently, it is our suggestion that the cocktail may possess analgesic and anti-inflammatoty properties. © 2008 Asian Network for Scientific Information.