Evaluation of the acute and sub-acute anti-inflammatory property of the aqueous stem bark extract of <i>Parkia Filicoidea</i> Welw(Fabaceae)

Abstract

Parkia filicoidea, Welw (Fabecea) plant parts are claimed to be used as herbal medicine in the management of inflammation. This claim however has not  been substantiated, scientifically, hence the need for this study. The powderedstem bark of Parkia filocoidea was extracted by hot aqueous decoction,  cooled and strained. Oral acute toxicity study was carried out in rats using Lorke’s method. Test doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract were  evaluatedfor antiinflammatory activity using Carrageenan- induced paw edema, dextran- induced paw edema and formalin- inducedpaw edema models  of inflammation studies in albino rats. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) and distilled water (2 ml/kg) wereused as the positive and negative controls respectively.  The oral acute toxicity study revealed no mortality or signs of toxicity in both phases of the study, even after 14 days. Doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of  Parkia filocoidea extract produced significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory properties in the acute inflammatory models (carrageenan- and dextran induced  paw edema) but had no significant inhibitory effect in the sub-acute inflammatory model (formal in-induced pawedema) in rats when compared with the  control. The effect of the extract is comparable to indomethacin in the acute models. The result is in tandem with the claim of the ethno medical use of  the extract of Parkia filicoidea in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.