ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF Gomphrena celosioides AND Momordica charantia
Abstract
This study reports the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of aqueous leaf extracts of Gomphrena celosioides and Momordica charantia in rats and mice. Hot plate latency test and acetic acid induced writhing movement method were used as the model for analgesic evaluation, while the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema was used as the model for anti-inflammatory activity. The result of the study revealed that the leaf extracts of the two plants possess anti-inflammatory property as they were found to significantly (p<0.05) inhibit oedema induced by carrageenan in the rat paws. The leaf extract of Momordica charantia was also found to significantly (p<0.05) increase the reaction time of the mice in hot plate test method, while the number of writhing movement of the mice was also significantly(p<0.05) reduced in dose-dependent manner. Similar result was observed for mice treated with extract of Gomphrena celosioides. The pilot toxicity study revealed the plants to have appreciable safety margin, but high dose of Momordica charantia could cause purgation in rats. The results of the study suggest the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the aqueous leaf extracts of the two plants.
References
Basch, E., Gabardi, S., Ulbricht, C. 2003. Bitter melon (Momodica charantia): A review of efficacy and safety. Am J health Syst Pharm., 60(4): 356-359.
Carr, D.B., Goudas, L.C. 1999. Acute Pain. Lancet, 353: 2051-2058.
Dhalla, N.S., Gupta, K.C., Sastry, M.S., Malhortra, C.L. 1981. Chemical composition of the fruit of Momordica charantia Linn. India J Pharm., 23: 128-131.
Dirosa, M., Giround, J.P., Willoughby, D.A. 1971. Studies of the mediators of acute inflammatory response induced in rats in different sites by carrageenan and turpentine. Journal of Pathology, 104: 115-29.
Federation of state Medical Boards of the United States (FSMBUS). 2004. Model policy for the use of controlled substances for the treatment of pain
Guevara, A.P., Lim-sylianco, C., Cayrit, F., Finch, P. 1990. Anti-mutagens from Momordica charantia. Mutat Res, 230: 121-126.
Heller, A., Koch, T., Schmeck, J., Acker, V.K. 1998. Lipid mediators in inflammatory disorders. Drugs 55: 487-497.
Jilka, C., Strifler, B., Fortner, G.W., Hays, E.F., Takemoto, D.J. 1983. In vivo antitumor activity of the bitter melon (Momordica charantia). Cancer Res., 443: 5151-5155.
Koster, R.M., Anderson, E.J., De Beer 1959. Acetic acid for analgesic screening, Fed Proc. 18: 412.
Lotikar, M.M., Rajarama Rao, M.R. 1996. Pharmacology of an hypoglycemic principle isolated from the fruit of Momordica charantia Linn. India J Pharm., 28: 129-132.
Okiemy-Andissa, N., Miguel, M.L., Etou, A.W., Ouamba, J.M., Gbeassor, M., Abena, A. 2004. Analgesic Effects of Aqueous and Hydroalcoholic Extracts of three Congolese Medicinal Plants: Hyptis suaveolens, Nauclea latifolia and Occimum gratissimum. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences,
(9):1613 –1615.
Okolo, C.O., Johnson, P.B., Abdurahman, E.M. 1995. Analgesic Effect of irvingia gabonensis stem bark extract. J Ethnopharmacol, 45: 125 – 129.
Pereira, P.S., Moura, R.M.X. 2004. Antimicorbial screening and quantitative determination of benzoic acid derivative of Gomphrena celosioides by TLC-densitometry. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. Aceito, 52(11): 10.
Plattel, K., Srinivasan, K. 1997. Plant foods in the management of diabetes mellitus: vegetables as potential hypoglycemic agents. Nahrung, 41: 68-74.
Schaibe, H.G., Richter, F. 2004. Pathophysiology of pain. Langebecks Arch Surg., 389: 237-243.
Sofowora, A. 1979. Proceedings of a symposium on stigmatiodienol from Momordica charantia. Tetrahedron Lett., 26: 2217-2221.
Umukoro, S., Ashorobi, R.B. 2006. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia in rats. African J Biomed Res., 9: 199-124.
White, M. 1999. Mediators of inflammation and inflammatory process. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 103: 5378-5381.
Williams, T.J., Morley, J. 1973. Prostaglandins as potentiators of increased vascular permeability in inflammation. Nature, 246: 215-217.
Winter, C.A., Risley, E.A., Nuss, G.W. 1962. Carrageenan induced oedema in hind paw of rat as an assay for anti-inflammatory drugs. Proc Soc Exp Biol. and Med., 111: 544-547.
Woolf, C.J. 2004. Dissecting out mechanism responsible for peripheral neuropathic pain: Implications for diagnosis and therapy. Life Sci., 74: 2605-2610.
