Pharmacological evidence for the folk use of Nefang: antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of its constituent plants

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Anastasia N. Guantai²  Gabriel A. Agbor¹  Jackson Mugweru³  Amos M. Mwaura²  William N. Ngugi²  Juma D. Siminyu²  Faith A. Okalebo²  Protus Arrey Tarkang² 

[1] Centre for Research on Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM), Yaoundé, Cameroon;Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

关键词: Antinociceptive activities;    Anti-inflammatory;    Antipyretic;    Pharmacological effects;    Nefang;    Medicinal plants;   

Others  :  1212017
DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-015-0703-7

 received in 2014-11-14, accepted in 2015-05-29,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Nefang is a polyherbal anti-malarial composed of Mangifera indica (MiB and MiL ; bark and leaf), Psidium guajava (Pg), Carica papaya (Cp), Cymbopogon citratus (Cc), Citrus sinensis (Cs) and Ocimum gratissimum (Og) (leaves). Previous studies have demonstrated its in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities, antioxidant properties and safety profile. This study aimed at evaluating the antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the constituent plants of Nefang which are relevant to the symptomatic treatment of malaria fever.

Methods

Antipyretic activities were determined by the D-Amphetamine induced pyrexia and Brewer’s Yeast induced hyperpyrexia methods. Anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. Antinociceptive activities were determined by mechanical nociception in the tail pressure and thermal nociception in the radiant heat tail flick and hot plate methods. Data was analysed using the one way ANOVA followed by Neuman-Keuls multiple comparison test.

Results

Best percentage inhibition of induced pyrexia (amphetamine/brewer’s yeast; p < 0.05) was exhibited by Cc (95/97) followed by Og (85/94), MiL (90/89), MiB (88/84) and Cs (82/89). Cc and Og exhibited comparable activities to paracetamol (100/95).

Anti-inflammatory studies revealed paw edema inhibition (%) as follows (p < 0.05): Indomethacin (47), MiL (40), Cp (30), MiB (28) and Og (22), suggesting best activity by MiL.

Antinociceptive studies revealed significant (p < 0.01) pain inhibition (%) as follows: Paracetamol (97), Og (113), MiL (108), Pg (84) and MiB (88). Og and MiL exhibited the best activities.

Conclusion

The results obtained suggest that the constituent plants possess biologically active compounds with antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. These activities are essential in the symptomatic treatment of malaria fever, thereby justifying the folk use of Nefang. This would be useful in its subsequent development for clinical application.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Tarkang et al.

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1.

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