Anti-inflammatory Effect of Entandrophragma angolense Bark Extracts on Acute Edema of the Rat's Paw Induced by Carrageenan

Aims: Our work consisted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the bark of Entandrophragma angolense in the laboratory.

Methods: The experiments were carried out on the model of acute edema of the rat's paw induced by carrageenan and the determination of C-reactive protein. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts, at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight were administered orally to the rats. The extracts were administered an hour before induction of acute inflammation with 1% carrageenan. The results obtained were compared to those of Diclofenac Sodium and those of physiological control.

Results: After administration of the distilled water, the carrageenan induced edema which increased gradually with a maximum of 38.41% after five hours of observation. The administration of Diclofenac Sodium at dose of 10 mg/kg b.wt as well as aqueous and ethanolic extracts of E. angolense significantly prevented the increase in the diameter of the rat's paw. From the 1st to the 4th hour, the aqueous extract at dose of 200 mg/kg b.wt respectively shows a percentage of inhibition similar to that of Diclofenac Sodium. Then, the administration of the extracts and Diclofenac Sodium decreased the concentration of CRP induced by the injection of carrageenan compared to the control.

Conclusion: E. angolense has a mechanism of anti-inflammatory action similar to that of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which could be attributed to its phytochemical constituents.