Abstract

PRELIMINARY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF Diodia sarmentosa SW. LEAF IN RODENTS

Uwemedimo Francis Umoh*, Kola. K. Ajibesin and Nse Gulbert Ubak

ABSTRACT

Diodia sarmentosa Sw. (Rubiaceae) is a weed that grows in evergreen forest particularly fringing ‘mushitu’ edges, open riverine vegetation and bushlands. In Akwa Ibom State ethnomedicine, the juice from the leaf is used to stop bleeding, treat bruises, swellings, pain and minor cuts. This work aims to provide scientific credence for its use in traditional medicine for the management of inflammatory pains. The leaves were extracted cold in 70% ethanol to yield ethanol extract. The dry ethanol extract was subjected to phytochemical screening to reveal the presence of chemical constituents. The ethanol extract was dissolved in distilled water and successively partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol to yield their respective fractions (NHF, CLF, EAF, BF and AF). The ethanol extract and the various fractions were tested for bioactivity using carrageenan and egg albumin-induced inflammatory models as well as acetic acid, formalin and hotplate analgesic models. The extract and partitioned fractions of D. sarmentosa leaf inhibited oedema caused by carrageenan and egg albumin; reduced analgesia caused by acetic acid, formalin and hotplate in a dose-dependent (200-600mg/kg) manner. These reductions were statistically significant (p<0.05) when compared to controls. Ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated a significantly higher activity than the other fractions. The research finding supports its folkloric use in ethnomedicinal practices in Akwa Ibom State.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, ethnomedicine, extract and fractions.