Nworah Doris Chinwe

The present experimental research work was undertaken to determine the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of novel xylopia aethiopica formulations based on folklore methods used in Nigeria for the management of chronic severe painful conditions on eggwhite induced paw oedma in both sex of albino wistar rats using the pain models of Randall and Selitto (1957) as adopted by Ugo Basile (Italy). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the different analgesia models at doses as low as 0.5mg/ kg & 2mg/ kg respectively were evaluated against the standard analgesic drug Piroxicam, at dose of 20mg/ kg. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities was dose, and sex dependant: females appearing to endure more pains than males and in the ratio 2:1; suggesting that xylopia aethiopica is efficacious in ameliorating pains .The results from the study demonstrated strong anti- nociceptive than anti-inflammatory activities and as evidenced the bioactive constituents of hydro-alcoholic formulations, particularly, hydro-methanolic, potentiated the effects which resonated with the local use of finished products and practices for medicine purposes. Studies with the pure samples are on the way in order to understand the precise mechanisms of action. Key words: Analgesic & anti-inflammation activity, Piroxicam, xylopia aethiopica, hydro-alcoholic formulation, paw oedema, sex.

In the southern and southwestern parts of Nigeria, xylopia aethiopica is much acclaimed to possess nutritional properties for the control of diverse or definite physiological processes and were evaluated and compared based on the folklore methods of the finished medicinal products and practices. Result showed variability and statistically significant differences in the percent composition of the detected bio-active phyto-mineral elements and suggested that the novel hydro-alcoholic formulations, specifically, hydro-methanolic, potentiated the stimulation of the phyto-minerals and ranked: hydro-methanolic (60.8%), > hydro-ethanolic (21.3%), > methanolic (11.81%) > ethanolic (6.15%). Evident in hydro-methanolic formulation, it can be a good source of the following micro-minerals: iron (32.7%), magnesium (10.2%), manganese (8.9%), calcium (7.6%), potassium (0.69%), zinc (0.36%), sodium (0.28%), phosphorus (0.08%) and lead (0.001%). The percent proximate composition ranged: carbohydrate 72.6 to 77.7, protein 12 to 14.7, fiber 2.99 to 6.0, ash value 2.5 to 3.9, lipid/fat 1.47 to 2.3, and moisture content 0.98 to 1.96. While the anti-nutrients detected were: tannin 87%, oxalate 12.03%, hydrogen cyanide 0.93%, and phytate 0.08%.  The findings of this study provided importantly that xylopia aethiopica can ameliorate natural healing and scientific credence on the rationale of the folklore hydro-alcoholic methods, particularly, hydro-methanolic formulations in processing and dispensing the finished bio-active products from which our understanding of the safety, effectiveness and quality of finished nutritional or medicinal products and practices may emerge.

This research work evaluated the effects of Psidium guajava leaf extract on differential white blood cell count, % Packed Cell Volume(PCV) and Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in acute -induced inflamed wistar rats. The study involved the use of forty five rats (in two groups) and were each divided into various subgroups (5mg/kg, 10mg/kg, 15mg/kg of extract and aspirin and control groups), with average weight of 150-270g. The initial, inflamed, and treated values of rats paw volumes were taken and after inducing inflammation with egg albumin and after a period of administration of the extract and aspirin, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected. The results obtained at the end of the experiment showed that there were differences in values (i.e. initial, inflamed and treated). There was an increase in %PCV, WBC, Hb concentration after administration of extract and aspirin which led to a decrease in inflammatory effect. The effect may be due to the anti-inflammatory components present in P. guajava leaf and stem bark extracts which not only inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators but equally have multiplier effects on acutely low hematologic parameters. Based on these results, it is clear that P. guajava extracts possess components that sustain prompt recovery of these hematologic parameters during inflammation, a possible mechanism of action of its anti-inflammatory effect on animals.

In an effort to scientifically appraise the mechanism of action of Psdium guajava stem bark and leaves, the present study was carried out to investigate the cell membrane stabilizing anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extracts of psidum guajava on experimental animal model at three different dose levels – 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg and 15mg/kg. Aspirin (10mg/kg) was used as standard reference cell membrane stabilizing agent for comparison. This research work was carried out using Wistar strain albino rats weighing 150g-175g. The extractive inhibited heat- induced haemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro. The methanol extract of Psidum guajava stem- bark demonstrated 89.23%, 93.94% and 103.66% inhibition while the leave extract demonstrated 51.40%, 51.43%, 61.40% and 44.29% of hemolysis of RBC caused by heat, in a dose- dependent manner – 5mg/kg, 10mg/kg and 15mg/kg respectively. Results were considered significant at p ≤0.05.

In spite of wide spread biological uses of Psidium guajava, there is a dearth of information on its hepatoprotective activity especially during inflammation. This work was therefore conducted to evaluate the effects of methanolic stem bark and leave extracts of the plant on acute-phase proteins during acute-phase response in rats. Forty albino Wistar rats (twenty in each group) were divided into two groups (stem bark and leave extracts). Inflammation was induced using egg albumin while treatment with the extracts commenced as soon as the inflammation was established and this lasted for 90 minutes. Initial, inflammation and recovery phase blood samples were obtained for analysis of acute-phase proteins (Albumin & C-reactive protein) using standard methods. Even though the stem bark extract showed more potent effects on both parameters in either dose-dependent and time-dependent fashions, both were perpetuating their anti-inflammatory potency through significant reduction on C-RP and increment on Albumin levels purporting a possible mechanism of action for anti-inflammatory activity of Psidium guajava. Results were considered significant at P≤0.05.

Preliminary characterization and isolation of phytomedicinal components of dried black fruits of xylopia aethiopica in hydro-methanolic (1:4 v/v), hydro-ethanolic (1:4, v/v), methanolic, ethanolic and aqueous solvents has been compared. Results showed variability and significant differences in phytomedicinal compositions and the potency ranked: hydro-methanolic > hydro-ethanolic > methanolic > ethanolic = aqueous and the percentage difference was 75%, 54%, 45.8%, 29% =29% which perhaps validates the efficacy of the therapeutic potentials of xylopia aethiopica for many of the traditional medicinal applications.  Anthraquinone and combined anthraquinone were exclusively found in hydro-methanolic and methanolic concentrates and accounted for 44.4 % and 33.3 % respectively. Glycosides (-terpene, sterols and deoxy-sugar) accounted for 100% in hydro-alcoholic concentrates respectively. Alkaloids and the phenolic compounds flavonoids and tannins with the exception of saponins which was negligible or absence in the solvents were also the phytomedicinial constituents. Results suggest that the ability of hydro-alcoholic to enhance the isolation of useful constituents might be attributed to the differential solubility of the combined hydrophobic and hydrophilic components of the phytomedicinal bioactive ingredients in the solvent which, is still subject to further studies. Hydro-alcoholic, specifically hydro-methanolic, therefore is recommended for isolation and characterization of economically important medicinal plants of medical interest.