Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of extract of Anchomanes difformis in rats

Anchomanes difformis is a tropical plant that has been used in folklore to treat diverse complications. The leaf extract of A. difformis was investigated for possible anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in albino wistar rats. In these independent studies, two sets of twenty five rats were divided into five groups of five rats per group. Formalin induced pain in rats was used to investigate the anti-nociceptive effect of the extract. The extract was administered orally in the treated groups at doses 200, 400, 800 and 1600 mg/kg with aspirin serving as the positive drug control while the normal control group was not given any extract but water. Studies were also carried out on the egg albumin induced anti-inflammatory activity in rats by inducing oedema on the left hind paw. The result showed a significant inhibition (p<0.05) on the later phase (800mg/kg) of formalin pain induction in rats; similarly, a significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity was observed at 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The study thus validates the ethnomedicinal usage of A. difformis in the treatment of pain and inflammation.