Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Leptadenia hastata on Albino Rats

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the leaf-stem extract of leptadeniahastata were investigated in albino rats. The phytochemical screening of the extract was also carried out and at the end of the experiment; all the albino rats were tested to check the any abnormality in the liver enzymes which could have been caused by the administration of the plant extract. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were determined by formalin induced inflammation of the rat paw. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponin, tannins, flavonoids, steroidal ring, resins and terpenoids. The leaf-stem extract of leptadeniahastata (200 to 800mg/kg) caused significant inhibition on the formalin induced inflammation in albino rats ( p ≤ 0.05 ). I fact, 800mg/kg test group showed maximum inhibition of inflammation (96.2%) when compared with the control and the reference groups. This effect was comparable to the observed effect with paraceutamol (2mg/kg) which was used as a standard. Furthermore, the leaf-stem extract of leptadeniahastata caused a significant reduction in the formalin induced pain in albino rat as compared with the reference and the normal control. It was clearly shown that leptadeniahastata leaf-stem extract have a little effect on the liver enzymes (AST and ALT) of the experimental albino rats. Leptadeniahastata possessed anti inflammatory and analgesics properties and recommended for acute inflammatory disorders and diseases associated with pains. This finding also support the claims of its use traditionally as an anti-cholesteronemia in Nigeria traditional practice.