In vivo anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extracts of Ocimum lamiifolium in mice model

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Abstract

Aim of the study

Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae) has been used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment of different inflammatory disorders such as oropharyngitis, wound, pain, fever, and others. However, its use has mainly been based on empirical findings. Thus the objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the antiinflammatory effects and acute oral toxicities of the leaf extracts of Ocimum lamiifolium in mice.

Materials and methods

Aqueous and ethanol crude extracts were screened for their antiinflammatory activities in mice using carrageenin induced paw edema. And then the aqueous extract, the most active extract, was further fractionated and the fractions were tested for their anti-inflammatory activities using carrageenin, histamine and serotonin induced mice paw edema. Distilled water and aspirin were employed as negative and positive controls, respectively. Acute oral toxicity of both extracts and fractions were also determined after giving graded doses.

Results

The aqueous and ethanol extracts were able to reduce inflammation significantly, but greater anti-inflammatory activity was observed for the aqueous extract at all dose levels. Of all fractions the water residue showed highly significant anti-inflammatory activity.

Conclusions

Ocimum lamiifolium leaf extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activities with less acute toxicity.

Graphical abstract

The aqueous and ethanol leave extracts of Ocimum lamiifolium showed significant anti-inflammatory activities against carrageenin, histamine, and serotonin induced mice paw edema.

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Introduction

Inflammation is a dynamic process of plasma derived and cellular events in response to infection and tissue injury (Banasik, 2000). The cardinal signs of inflammation, redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), heat (calor) and hyperalgesia (dolor), develop as an acute response to a local inflammatory insult (Banasik, 2000). These symptoms result from the action of inflammatory agents such as bradykinin, serotonin, histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and nitric oxide, which can originate locally or from cells that infiltrate in the site of insult (Rasheed, 2003).

Ocimum lamiifolium has been used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment different disorders such as oropharyngitis, wound, pain, fever, and other inflammatory disorders. The fresh leaves of the plant are crushed and squeezed with hands and the juice is mixed with water or coffee and then taken orally (Giday et al., 2007, Teklehaymanot and Giday, 2007, Teklehaymanot et al., 2007). Its use for pain and fever has already been justified by scientific studies (Makonnen et al., 2003a, Makonnen et al., 2003b). Even if it is possible to deduce the anti-inflammatory activities of this plant based on its action on pain and fever, there are no, however, scientific studies justifying the presence, weakness and strength of its anti-inflammatory action for certain. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities as well as oral toxicities of Ocimum lamiifolium leaf extracts.

Section snippets

Animals

Swiss Albino mice with body weight 25–30 g were used for each experiment. Animals were obtained from the animal house of department of pharmacology, Faculty of medicine, Addis Ababa University. Animal quarters were maintained at a temperature of 22 ± 2°C and with 12-h light/12-h dark cycle. The animal study was performed according to the international rules considering animal experiments and internationally accepted ethical principles for laboratory animal use and care (86/609/EEC). The study was

Effects of Ocimum lamiifolium on carrageenin-induced paw edema

The paw edema of mice increased progressively and reached its maximum after 3 h of carrageenin injection. The aqueous extract of the leaves of Ocimum lamiifolium significantly reduced carrageenin induced paw edema in mice at all doses employed (p < 0.001). Similarly, its ethanol extracts reduced paw edema significantly at doses of 600 and 800 mg/kg (p < 0.05), but not at 400 mg/kg. Superior inhibition of paw edema was observed by aqueous extract than ethanol extract at the same dose level as compared

Discussion

The data presented for both aqueous and ethanol extracts as well as some fractions of the aqueous extract (water, chloroform and butanol fractions) of the leaves of Ocimum lamiifolium showed that this medicinal plant possess significant anti-inflammatory activity. The most suitable solvent for extraction of the anti-inflammatory principles from Ocimum lamiifolium was water, as the water extract was the most active. Furthermore, the greater potency of the water residue in comparison with other

Acknowledgments

W.M. gratefully acknowledges Addis Ababa University for their financial support. We are most grateful to the Department of Drug Research, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute for providing free access to their facilities to undertake part of the research work. We also wish to thank Mr. Assefa Hailu for identification of plant material.

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