Author(s)

Loyce Nakalembe¹, Josephine N. Kasolo², Edward Nyatia³, Aloysius Lubega⁴, Godfrey S. Bbosa^4*

¹Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, St Augustine International University, Kampala, Uganda.
²Department of Medical Physiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.
³Department of Biotechnical and Diagnostic Sciences, Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Kampala, Uganda.
⁴Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda.

Background: Pain is a common problem encountered in daily life among humans and animal and it is commonly managed conventionally using modern medicines and traditionally by use of medicinal plants. Phytolacca dodecandra is a common herb in Uganda, used traditionally to alleviate pain and inflammatory conditions. However, its activity in alleviating pain and inflammatory diseases has not been fully scientifically evaluated. Aim of Study: To evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of total crude leaf extracts of P. dodecandra in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: It was a laboratory-based experimental study. Acetic acid-induced writhing test was used to determine the analgesic activity and the histamine-induced paw edema formation for anti-inflammatory activity of the extract. Twenty eight animals were divided into 7 groups each with 4 rats and two (2) sets of data were obtained from each animal per group as per guidance of the refinement rule of 3Rs. For analgesic activity, Group I was dosed with 1.0ml of normal saline (negative control), group II, III, IV, V, VI were dosed with 1000.0, 600.0, 150.0, 40.0 and 5.0 mg/kg bwt of extract respectively. Group VII was dosed 10.0 mg/kg bwt diclofenac sodium (Na) drug (positive control). For anti-inflammatory activity, Group I was dosed with 1.0ml of normal saline (negative control), Group II, III, IV, V, VI were dosed with 1000.0, 600.0, 300.0, 40.0 and 5.0 mg/kg bwt of extract respectively. Group VII was dosed 10.0 mg/kg bwt diclofenac Na. The percentage mean paw volume inhibition and percentage writhing protection were determined. Results: The mean percentage paw volume inhibitions were 29.1%, 74.2% and 32.3% at doses of 5.0, 40.0 mg/kg bwt and 10.0 mg/kg bwt diclofenac Na respectively. The mean percentage writhing protection was 8.9%, 10.4%, 78.5% and 98.7% at doses of 150.0, 600.0, 1000.0 mg/kg of extract and 10.0 mg/kg bwt diclofenac Na respectively. Conclusions: Total crude leaf extracts of P. dodecandra has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity that may be attributed to the presence of polyphenolic, saponins and many others phytochemicals that are present in the plant.

Phytolacca dodecandra, Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory, Total Crude, Leaf Extract

Nakalembe, L. , Kasolo, J. , Nyatia, E. , Lubega, A. and Bbosa, G. (2019) Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Total Crude Leaf Extract of Phytolacca dodecandra in Wistar Albino Rats. Neuroscience and Medicine, 10, 259-271. doi: 10.4236/nm.2019.103020.