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Anti-inflammatory activities of crude ethanol extract of Combretum zenkeri Engl. & Diels leaves

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Comparative Clinical Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To augment orthodox anti-inflammatory drugs, which are scarce in some areas, local dwellers in some parts of Nigeria and Asia rely on herbal products such as Combretum zenkeri Engl. & Diels leaves for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Aim

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of crude ethanol extract of C. zenkeri leaves (EECZ).

Materials and methods

EECZ was prepared and subjected to anti-inflammatory activity tests. The ability of EECZ to inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators in rats was used as a measure of its anti-inflammatory property. The inhibitory effects of EECZ on phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity, platelet aggregation and haemolysis of human red blood cells (HRBCs) were determined using standard methods. The phytochemical constituents and acute toxicity profile were also evaluated.

Results

EECZ at oral doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg b.w. and at 6 h inhibited egg albumin-induced rat paw oedema by 67.36% and 86.19% respectively. The extract similarly inhibited PLA2 activity causing 58.23% and 60.24% inhibition at concentrations of 400 and 800 μg/ml, respectively. At 100–800 μg/ml, EECZ also significantly inhibited haemolysis of HRBCs. In a concentration-dependent manner, EECZ significantly inhibited CaCl2-induced platelet aggregation. The presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenol, saponins, steroids, tannins and glycosides were detected in EECZ. The acute toxicity test showed that EECZ is safe at doses less than 5,000 mg/kg b.w.

Conclusion

This study shows that EECZ possess anti-inflammatory activities that could be through the inhibition of PLA2 activity and platelet aggregation, and membrane stabilization.

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Abbreviations

EECZ:

Ethanol extract of Combretum zenkeri Engl. & Diels

PLA2:

Phospholipase A2

COX:

Cyclooxygenase

LTs:

Leukotrienes

LOX:

Lipoxygenase

HRBC:

Human red blood cell

EDTA:

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

PRP:

Platelet-rich plasma

TXA2:

Thromboxane A2

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. E.G. Anaduaka of Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka for his technical assistance and advice during the study.

Funding

This study was funded by the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Chidera Peace Ogbu & Okwesili Fred Chiletugo Nwodo

  2. Medical Biochemistry, Toxicology and Drug Discovery Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

    Okagu Innocent Uzochukwu

Authors
  1. Chidera Peace Ogbu
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  2. Okagu Innocent Uzochukwu
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  3. Okwesili Fred Chiletugo Nwodo
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Contributions

The authors’ contributions are as follows: N.O.F.C. and O.C.P. conceived the research idea, and designed the study, N.O.F.C., O.C.P. and O.I.U. performed the experiments, O.C.P and O.I.U analysed the data; O.C.P. and O.I.U. wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Okagu Innocent Uzochukwu.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Ogbu, C.P., Okagu, I.U. & Nwodo, O.F.C. Anti-inflammatory activities of crude ethanol extract of Combretum zenkeri Engl. & Diels leaves. Comp Clin Pathol 29, 397–409 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-019-03072-0

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