ABSTRACT
Purpose: Aloe buettneri A. Berger is commonly used in Togolese folk medicine to treat inflammation and gastric ulcer. In this study we investigated the anti-oedema; analgesic; antipyretic and ulcer healing properties of the hydro-alcohol extract of their leaves. Methods: Rat oedema paw were induced by the injection of 0.1 ml of formaldehyde 1; tail flick method is used to study analgesic property; hyperthermia was induced by subcutaneous injection of 15of a brewers' yeast suspension at dose of 10 ml/kg and ulcers were induced by ethanol or HCl/ethanol mixture. Results: The extract showed anti-inflammatory properties at doses between 250-500 mg/kg. It inhibited; in a dose- dependent manner; the oedema induced by 0.1 ml of formaldehyde 1. Scores of 73.70and 83.63were obtned when the doses of extract administered were 100 and 500 mg/kg; respectively. The tail flick analgesic index showed an increase of 36.56when the dose was 500 mg/kg. The extract decreased significantly the hyperthermia induced by the injection of yeast. 1000 mg/kg of the extract inhibited 63.77of the gastric lesion induced by acid-water-ethanol mixture while daily administration of the same dose accele- rated the cicatrisation of gastric ulcer induced by 95ethanol. Conclusion: The results obtained show that the hydro-alcohol extract of Aloe buettneri A. Berger (Lillia- ceae) has anti-inflammatory; anti-ulcer and wound healing properties