Pharmacological evidence for the folk use of Nefang: antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of its constituent plants

Nefang is a polyherbal anti-malarial composed of Mangifera indica ( MiB and MiL; bark and leaf), Psidium guajava ( Pg ), Carica papaya ( Cp ), Cymbopogon citratus ( Cc ), Citrus sinensis ( Cs ) and Ocimum gratissimum ( Og ) (leaves). Previous studies have demonstrated its in vitro and in vivo antipl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	BMC complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 174
Main Authors:	Tarkang, Protus Arrey, Okalebo, Faith A, Siminyu, Juma D, Ngugi, William N, Mwaura, Amos M, Mugweru, Jackson, Agbor, Gabriel A, Guantai, Anastasia N
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BioMed Central 09-06-2015
Subjects:	Analgesics - pharmacology Analgesics - therapeutic use Animals Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use Antimalarials - pharmacology Antimalarials - therapeutic use Antipyretics - pharmacology Antipyretics - therapeutic use Cameroon Carrageenan Drug Combinations Edema - drug therapy Fever - drug therapy Inflammation - drug therapy Magnoliopsida Malaria - complications Malaria - drug therapy Mice Pain - drug therapy Pain Measurement Phytotherapy Plant Bark Plant Extracts - pharmacology Plant Extracts - therapeutic use Plant Leaves - drug effects Rats, Wistar
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Summary:	Nefang is a polyherbal anti-malarial composed of Mangifera indica ( MiB and MiL; bark and leaf), Psidium guajava ( Pg ), Carica papaya ( Cp ), Cymbopogon citratus ( Cc ), Citrus sinensis ( Cs ) and Ocimum gratissimum ( Og ) (leaves). Previous studies have demonstrated its in vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activities, antioxidant properties and safety profile. This study aimed at evaluating the antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the constituent plants of Nefang which are relevant to the symptomatic treatment of malaria fever. Antipyretic activities were determined by the D-Amphetamine induced pyrexia and Brewer's Yeast induced hyperpyrexia methods. Anti-inflammatory activities were investigated using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema method. Antinociceptive activities were determined by mechanical nociception in the tail pressure and thermal nociception in the radiant heat tail flick and hot plate methods. Data was analysed using the one way ANOVA followed by Neuman-Keuls multiple comparison test. Best percentage inhibition of induced pyrexia (amphetamine/brewer's yeast; p < 0.05) was exhibited by Cc (95/97) followed by Og (85/94), MiL (90/89), MiB (88/84) and Cs (82/89). Cc and Og exhibited comparable activities to paracetamol (100/95). Anti-inflammatory studies revealed paw edema inhibition (%) as follows (p < 0.05): Indomethacin (47), MiL (40), Cp (30), MiB (28) and Og (22), suggesting best activity by MiL. Antinociceptive studies revealed significant (p < 0.01) pain inhibition (%) as follows: Paracetamol (97), Og (113), MiL (108), Pg (84) and MiB (88). Og and MiL exhibited the best activities. The results obtained suggest that the constituent plants possess biologically active compounds with antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. These activities are essential in the symptomatic treatment of malaria fever, thereby justifying the folk use of Nefang. This would be useful in its subsequent development for clinical application.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	1472-6882 1472-6882
DOI:	10.1186/s12906-015-0703-7