Anti-Inflammatory Potentials Of Ethanol Root Extract Of Salacia Lehmbachii In Wistar Rats

Abstract

It is well known that many diseases are accompanied by inflammation and pain.  Inflammation and pain results from cell injury. Inflammation is critical for the development of many complex diseases and disorders including autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, neuro-degenerative diseases, cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Salacia lehmbachii is commonly found in the tropical forest of Cameroon and South Eastern Nigeria, it has been reported to possess Analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials and anti-abortificient activities in rat model. In this study we compared the anti-inflammatory effects of Ethanol root extract of Salacia lehmbachii (ERESL), prednisolone and acetysalicyclic acid on carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation in Wistar rats; the study focused on oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in rat model since there is great similarity and homology between the genomes of humans and rodents. The anti-inflammatory activity of ERESL in Wistar rats at graded doses (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) were compared with two standard drugs (aspirin 0.93mg/kg and prednisolone 5mg/kg) using Carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation. The effects of ERESL and standard drugs on inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress markers were compared, the results were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni post hoc test. Pretreatment with ERESL (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) and PRE (5 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p < 0.05) prevented carrageenan-induced GSH alteration when compared with carrageenan (control group). But pretreatment with ASP (100 mg/kg, p.o.) failed to prevent carrageenan-induced alteration on GSH concentration in rats. Post-hoc analysis by bonferroni test revealed that carrageenan injection into the 6^th day old pouches significantly (p < 0.05) increase the MDA concentration when compared with vehicle group. On the other hand, pretreatment with ERSL (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.), PRE (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and ASP (100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited carrageenan-induced increased MDA concentration when compared with carrageenan (control group), Histopathological studies revealed that administration of carrageenan to air pouches produced tissue damage characterized by prominent congested blood flow, inflammatory cellular infiltrates occupying the lower two-third of the deeper dermis tissue and cellular enlargement of pouch wall, suggesting tissue damage. However, pretreatment with ASP (100 mg/kg, p.o.), PRE (5 mg/kg, p.o.) and ERESL (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) showed tissues with intact epidermis consisting of stratified squamous epithelium displaying reduced odema and inflammatory tissue infiltration. In conclusion, the results from the study provides evidence, which suggest that ethanol root extract of Salacia lemhbachii attenuated air pouch inflammatory reactions induced by carrageenan via mechanisms related to anti-oxidant, inhibition of cellular migration and tissue protection