Anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic activity of young and old leaves of Vernonia amygdalina

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 111; pp. 1187 - 1203
• Main Authors: Asante, Du-Bois, Henneh, Isaac Tabiri, Acheampong, Desmond Omane, Kyei, Foster, Adokoh, Christian Kweku, Ofori, Eric Gyamerah, Domey, Nelson Kwabla, Adakudugu, Emmanuel, Tangella, Lokeswari Prathyusha, Ameyaw, Elvis Ofori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01-03-2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analgesics - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antipyretics - pharmacology; Aspirin; Carrageenan - pharmacology; Cold allodynia; Diclofenac; Edema; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - drug therapy; Female; Fever - drug therapy; Inflammation - drug therapy; Male; Mast cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Nociception - drug effects; Pain - drug therapy; Paw withdrawal; Phytotherapy - methods; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Pyrexia; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vernonia - chemistry; Vernonia amygdalina; Edema; Paw withdrawal; Aspirin; Vernonia amygdalina; Cold allodynia; Pyrexia; Mast cells; Diclofenac
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.12.147

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•The amount of bioactive compounds present in the young and old ethanolic leaf extracts of Vernonia amygdalina differ.•The anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of these young leaf extract is greater than the old leaf extracts of V. amygdalina.•Both young and old leaves extract of V. amygdalina utilise diffrent mechanisms to block nociception.•The mast cell stabilizing effect of the young leaf extract is greater than that of the old leaf extract of V. amygdalina.
Both young and old leaves of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) are traditionally used to treat inflammation, pain and fever. However, the efficacy of young and old leaves for treating these ailments have not been compared till date.
To ascertain the effect of young and old leaves of VA in managing inflammation, pain and fever.
Both quantitative and qualitative phytochemical screening of ethanol extracts of young (EthYL) and old (EthOL) leaves of VA were performed. The anti-inflammatory activity of orally administered EthYL and EthOL (50–200 mg/kg) and Diclofenac (10 mg/kg) were evaluated in carrageenan-induced inflammation model in rats. Antipyretic activity of EthYL, EthOL and Aspirin (25 mg/kg) were assessed in the Baker’s yeast-induced pyrexia model. Anti-allodynic effect of both extracts were evaluated by inserting inflamed paws of rats in cold water. Antinociceptive property of the extracts were assessed using tail withdrawal and formalin-induced nociception test. Histopathological examination of the paws was performed, in addition to formalin test to understand the possible mechanism of action of the extracts. Negative control rats received 2 ml/kg normal saline in all tests.
The amount of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and phenolics were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in EthOL than EthYL, while saponins were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in EthYL than EthOL. The antioxidant ability and total antioxidant capacity were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in EthYL than EthOL. However, this was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the anti-oxidant activity of Ascorbic acid. A dose-dependent increase in anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and antinociceptive properties were observed in both EthYL and EthOL, similar to the standard drugs. Mast cell degranulation accompanied by vasodilatation and high leukocytosis were observed in the negative control, but were markedly low in extract treated groups. Both extracts mediated their analgesic effect through opioidergic and nitric oxide pathways with EthYL additionally implicating the muscarinic cholinergic system.
Although both EthYL and EthOL alleviate inflammation, pyrexia and nociception, EthYL of VA was found to be more potent than EthOL.