Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC EFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACT, ITS SOLVENT FRACTIONS, METHANOL 80% EXTRACT AND POLYSACCHARIDES FROM MORINDA MORINDOIDES (BAKER) MILNE-REDHEAD LEAVES IN EXPERIMENTAL WISTAR RATS

Cimanga K.R.*, Tshodi E.M., Kikweta M.C.,  Vlietinck A.J. and Pieters L.

ABSTRACT

Extracts, solvent fractions and polysaccharides from Morinda morindoides (Rubiaceae) leaves were submitted to an evaluation in vivo for their putative anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In carrageenan injection induced increase paw oedema foot volume (POFV) of treated rats, the aqueous and methanol 80% extracts, and solvent fractions caused significant diminution of paw oedema foot volume of treated rats to values comprised between 0.04 and 0.12 ml in 5h corresponding to percentage inhibitions of paw oedema between 65.71±0.03 and 88.57±0.03. Polysaccharides provoked the same effect by reducing POV of treated rats to values ranging from 0.05 to 0.08 ml in 5h related to percentage inhibitions of paw oedema between 77.44±0.00 and 88.71±0.01% compared to negative control with POV of 0.35 ml without inhibition of produced paw oedema (0%). These actions clearly demonstrate that these samples from M. morindoides were endowed with anti-inflammatory effects at different extents. In abdominal contortions movements induced by the injection of acetic acid 3% (v/v), aqueous and methanol 80% extracts, and solvent fractions reached significant decrease of number of abdominal contortion movements (NACM) of treated rats to values from 1.40±0.03 to 4.20±0.01 corresponding to percentage inhibitions of these NACM from 91.45±0.00 to 78.77±0.03. Polysaccharides acted in the same manner by reducing NACM to values ranging from 2.04±0.02 to.92±0.01 compared to negative control showing contortion movements of 75.50±0.01. In time latencies (TLs) test induced on hot plate, aqueous and methanol 80% extracts and solvent fractions caused significantly decrease of TLs between 12.11±0.04 and 31.02±0.02 minutes while polysaccharides provoked this decrease TLs from 14.00±0.02 to 19.00±0.00 minutes compared to negative control showing time latency of 118.36±0.03 minutes. These observed effects in both tests clearly demonstrated that extracts, solvent fractions and polysaccharides possessed analgesic activity in treated animals.

Keywords: Morinda morindoides, Rubiaceae, leaves, extracts, fractions, carrageenan, acetic acid, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities.