ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Anacardium occidentale L. leaf is useful in the treatment of inflammation and asthma, but the bioactive constituents responsible for these activities have not been characterized. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying the bioactive constituent(s) of A. occidentale ethanolic leaf extract (AOEL) and its solvent-soluble portions, and evaluating their effects on histamine-induced paw edema and bronchoconstriction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The bronchodilatory effect was determined by measuring the percentage protection provided by plant extracts in the histamine-induced bronchoconstriction model in guinea pigs. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts on histamine-induced paw edema in rats was determined by measuring the increase in paw diameter, after which the percent edema inhibition was calculated. The extracts were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify the bioactive constituents. Column chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used respectively to isolate and characterize the constituents. The bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated bioactive constituent were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histamine induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pigs and edema in the rat paw. AOEL, hexane-soluble portion of AOEL, ethyl acetate-soluble portion of AOEL, and chloroform-soluble portion of AOEL significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities (P < 0.05). Oleamide (9-octadecenamide) was identified as the most abundant compound in the extracts and was isolated. Oleamide significantly increased bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activities by 32.97% and 98.41%, respectively (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results indicate that oleamide is one of the bioactive constituents responsible for the bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory activity of A. occidentale leaf, and can therefore be employed in the management of bronchoconstriction and inflammation.</p>
ABSTRACT
Anchomanes difformis is a tropical plant that has been used in folklore to treat diverse complications. The leaf extract of A. difformis was investigated for possible anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in albino wistar rats. In these independent studies, two sets of twenty five rats were divided into five groups of five rats per group. Formalin induced pain in rats was used to investigate the anti-nociceptive effect of the extract. The extract was administered orally in the treated groups at doses 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg with aspirin serving as the positive drug control while the normal control group was not given any extract but water. Studies were also carried out on the egg albumin induced anti-inflammatory activity in rats by inducing oedema on the left hind paw. The result showed a significant inhibition [p<0.05] on the later phase [800mg/kg] of formalin pain induction in rats; similarly, a significant [p<0.05] anti-inflammatory activity was observed at 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The study thus validates the ethnomedicinal usage of A. difformis in the treatment of pain and inflammation
ABSTRACT
Chrysophyllum albidum G. is a tropical plant and commonly found in Nigeria. It belongs to the sapotaceae family and used in folklore in the treatment of yellow fever, malaria, diarrhea, vaginal and dermatological infections. The study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant properties of this plant by employing the in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The effect of DPPH free radical scavenging activity on the fractions of petroleum ether, ethanol, butanol, ethylacetate, and water of C. albidum was determined. The ethyl acetate fraction was purified in column chromatography to obtain myricetin rhamnoside. Structure elucidation was done by NMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, ethanol extract was administered to five groups of eight rats per group. The animals in the normal group were administered with vehicle alone for 7 days. The positive control animals were given vehicle on the first four days, and with the vehicle and hepatotoxin [CC1[4]] on the fifth, sixth and seventh day. The animals in the treatment category were respectively administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg b.w. of extract and distilled water for the first four days, and with distilled water, extract and CC1[4] on the last three days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized and blood samples were collected for catalase [CAT], malondialdehyde [MDA], reduced gluthathione [GSH] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] assays. The petroleum ether fraction showed the least antiradical activity [4057.5 +/- 809.6 g/kg] while ethyl ether exhibited the highest activity [414.4 +/- 92.0 g/kg]. Myricetin rhamnoside also exhibited an excellent radical scavenging activity [314.1 +/- 60.2] which was comparable to the positive control. Result from animal study showed that C. albidum exhibited significant [p < 0.05] differences on the activity of CAT, MDA and GSH. The plant could therefore be employed as sources of natural antioxidant boosters and for the treatment of some oxidative stress disorders in which free radicals are implicated