Abstract

THE EFFECTS OF THE METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF MARKHAMIA TOMENTOSA (BENTH.) K. SCHUM. (BIGNONIACEAE) ON ARTHRITIS INDUCED BY COMPLETE FREUND’S ADJUVANT IN RATS

Roméo Joël Guemmogne Temdie*, Flaure Donfack Metchi, Edwige Voufo Ymele, Germain Koum Minoué and Théophile Dimo

ABSTRACT

Markhamia tomentosa (Bignoniaceae) is used in Cameroonian traditional medicine for the treatment of painful and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-arthritic effects of the methanol extract of M. tomentosa. Anti-arthritic effect was investigated on the chronic inflammation induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant. Arthritis was induced in male albino rats by subcutaneous injection of complete Freund’sadjuvant in left hind paw. Animals were orally treated with the M. tomentosa methanol extract at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day, started from the 10th day after adjuvant injection and was continued for the subsequent 9 days. Harshness of arthritis was evaluated from the rat weight, the paw oedema, hyperalgesia and from the histopathological assessment. The methanol extract of M. tomentosa (100 or 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced paw oedema and hyperalgesia in treated groups compare to arthritic rats. Rat body weight was not significantly altered following treatment the methanol leaves extract. A reduction of the synovial space, a marked erosion of articular cartilage and leukocytes infiltration in cartilage tissue caused by complete Freund’s adjuvant at the hind leg joints were restored following treatment with different doses of methanol extract. Our studies demonstrated that administration of the methanol leaves extract of M. tomentosa may protect against the severity of disease progression in adjuvant induced arthritis in rats. The anti-arthritic effectiveness of methanol leaves extract will make the plant a strong candidate for further investigation on arthritis.

Keywords: Markhamia tomentosa; complete Freund’s adjuvant, anti-arthritic; hyperalgesia.