ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic and antiinflammatory activities of the methanol extract of Cnestis ferruginea (CF) in rodents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antinociceptive activity of CF was evaluated using thermal (hot plate and tail flick tests) and chemical (acetic acid induced writhing and formalin tests) methods. The anti-inflammatory effects were studied using the cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan induced paw edema tests. RESULTS: The extract (300-500 mg/kg, per oral), dissolved in normal saline produced a dose dependent analgesic effect on a hot plate maintained at 55 +/- 2 degrees C as well as on the early and late phases of formalin induced paw licking in rats. At the same doses, the plant extract also significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma formation in rats. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the methanol extract of CF possesses analgesic and antiinflammatory activities.
Subject(s)
Analgesics/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Connaraceae/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Analgesics/analysis , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/analysis , Carrageenan , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Edema/chemically induced , Edema/prevention & control , Male , Mice , Nigeria , Plant Extracts/analysis , RatsABSTRACT
The effect of caffeine intake on the risk of coronary heart disease was studied. Twenty-one rats used were randomly divided into three experimental groups, the first group served as the control while the second and third groups were administered caffeine orally at doses of 10mg/kg body weight and 20mg/kg body weight respectively for fourteen days. Caffeine, at 10mg/kg body weight, significantly increased (P<0.05) serum LDL- cholesterol concentration and coronary heart disease risk ratio while it significantly reduced (P<0.05) serum triacylglycerol concentration when compared with controls. At 20mg/kg body weight, caffeine significantly increased (P<0.05) coronary heart disease risk ratio while it significantly reduced (P<0.05) serum HDL-cholesterol concentration and serum triacylgycerol concentration when compared with controls. No dose response effect was observed possibly suggestive of a threshold effect. These results suggest that caffeine predisposes consumers of caffeine containing beverages to coronary heart disease.
