aqueous root extract of Aristolochia ringens [Vahl.] Aristolochiaceae inhibits chemically-induced inflammation in rodents

The potential of the aqueous root extract of Aristolochia ringens [AR] [10-100 mg/kg p.o] to inhibit inflammation induced by phlogistics was evaluated using the carrageenan and egg albumin induced rat paw oedema, formaldehyde induced arthritic inflammation and xylene induced mouse ear oedema models. AR [10-50 mg/kg] dose-dependently decreased rat paw oedema in the carrageenan and egg albumin induced inflammation, producing comparable inhibition of 57.1% and 65.6% to the 57.9% and 63.9% of indomethacin and diclofenac [10 mg/kg p.o] respectively at 50 mg/kg. AR [10-50 mg/kg] also dose dependently inhibited formaldehyde-induced arthritic paw oedema over the 10 day observation period, with a greater inhibition of 50% at 50 mg/kg than the 40.8% inhibition by diclofenac [10 mg/kg i.p]. AR [50 mg/kg] also produced greater inhibition of 84.78% than the 65.21% by dexamethasone [1 mg/kg] in xylene-induced ear oedema. Results show that the aqueous root extract of Aristolochia ringens possesses antiinflammatory activity

Analgesic activity of the aqueous seed extract of Hunteria umbellata (K. Schum.) Hallier f. in rodents.

The analgesic effect and possible mechanism(s) of action of 50-200 mg/kg of the aqueous seed extract of H. umbellata (HU) were investigated in different experimental models of analgesia using the tail flick, tail immersion, acetic acid-induced writhing tests and formalin-induced algesia. Oral pre-treatment with 50-200 mg/kg of HU caused significant and dose related analgesic effect in the treated rats in all the experimental models used. This analgesia was mediated via central and peripheral mechanisms. Overall, the results showed that HU possesses analgesic effect which lends support to its folkloric use in the local management of pain.