Open AccessINVESTIGATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS OF ARTEMISIA AFRA IN WISTAR RATS
Author(s) -
Mavuto Gondwe,
Anda Mpalala,
Lusanda Zongo,
David R Kamadyaapa,
Eugene Jamot Ndebia,
Constance Rufaro Sewani-Rusike,
Mathulo Shauli,
Jehu Iputo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
asian journal of pharmaceutical and clinical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2455-3891
pISSN - 0974-2441
DOI - 10.22159/ajpcr.2018.v11i12.26298
Subject(s) - saline , carrageenan , edema , nociception , aqueous extract , hot plate test , anti inflammatory , traditional medicine , medicine , acetic acid , pharmacology , chemistry , anesthesia , biochemistry , receptor
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Artemisia afra.Methods: Animals were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each and administered with normal saline (2 ml/kg), indomethacin (10 mg/ kg), and A. afra at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, respectively. For the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced paw edema was used while the hot plate and acetic acid induced-writhing tests were used to assess the antinociceptive activity.Results: Pretreatment with A. afra at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not show any significant biological effects (p>0.05) for any of the three tests, when compared against saline-treated control group. At a dose of 200 mg/kg, A. afra demonstrated significant effects (p<0.01), during the 5th h reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema by 12%. The highest dose (400 mg/kg) of A. afra demonstrated more potent effects by decreasing the carrageenan-induced paw swelling (p<0.001–0.05) during the 3rd, 4th, and 5th h, by up to 38% when compared against saline-treated control group. Both the 200 and 400 mg/kg, A. afra doses achieved a significant increase (p<0.05) in reaction time in the hot plate test. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, pretreatment with A. afra (400 mg/kg) significantly reduced pain by 39% (p<0.01) by comparison with the saline control.Conclusion: Experimental data demonstrated that aqueous extract of A. afra possesses anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties in experimental acute inflammation and pain. These findings support the usage of A. afra in managing inflammation and pain in traditional practice.