Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Potential of the Stem Barks Aqueous Extract of Albizia ferruginea (Guill. & Perr.) Benth. (Mimosaceae) in Rats and Mice

Aims: The present research was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic potential of aqueous extract of Albizia ferruginea stem bark.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Animal Biology and Physiology (Animal Physiology Laboratory), Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I. between March 2012 and June 2016.

Methods: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyzes were done.The anti-inflammatory effect of the plant extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) was investigated on carrageenan, histamine, serotonin or dextran-induced paw oedema. The analgesic activity was evaluated on acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced nociception, hot plate and tail immersion tests in Swiss albino mice. The antipyretic activity of A. ferruginea extract was assessed on brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia.

Results: Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the AEAF revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoïds, phenols, saponins, tannins, glycosides, tannins and steroids. For quantitative phytochemical analysis, total flavonols represent 0.12±0.04 mg EQT/g dried extract and the total phenol content was 58.69±0.65 mg ECA/g dried extract. The total flavonoids content was 0.18±0.01mg EQT/g dried extract).The total alkaloids presented a grade of 27.45±0.14 mg EBER/g dried extract. Carrageenan, dextran, histamine and serotonin-induced inflammation were significantly inhibited by A. ferruginea’s extract (200 mg/kg), exhibiting 55.47%, 50.26%, 62.88% and 42.59% inhibition, respectively. Acetic acid-induced writhing was significantly reduced by the plant extract. The extract of Albizia ferruginea (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the second phase of formalin test. The analgesic tests revealed that A. ferruginea had only peripheral analgesic effect. Additionally, the plant’s extract prevented brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia in rats.

Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that A. ferruginea’s aqueous extract has anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic properties and this strongly supports the ethnopharmacological uses.