In vivo Pharmacological Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Cola hispida Methanol Leaf Extract and Its Fractions
Njideka Ifeoma Ani
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ebeano City-402004, Nigeria.
Nkoyo Imelda Nubila
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka-410001, Nigeria.
Goodnews Onyedikachi Ikeh *
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ebeano City-402004, Nigeria.
Jude Kosisochukwu Onyia
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ebeano City-402004, Nigeria.
Vincent Uchechukwu Ude
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ebeano City-402004, Nigeria.
Charles Chinedu Diovu
Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Ebeano City-402004, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cola hispida Brenan & Keay (Sterculiaceae), a West African plant used in Nigerian Ethnomedicine for pain and inflammation, was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in Wistar rats. The methanol leaf extract (CHME) and its n-hexane (CHHF), ethyl acetate (CHEF), and n-butanol (CHBF) fractions were tested using egg albumin and formalin-induced paw oedema models for anti-inflammatory activity, and formalin-induced pain and acetic acid-induced writhing models for analgesic activity, with diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg) as the positive control. The ethyl acetate fraction (CHEF) at 400 mg/kg exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory effect, achieving up to 80% inhibition of paw oedema and significantly reducing white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.01). CHME, CHBF, and CHHF also reduced oedema significantly (p < 0.05). Notably, CHBF (200 mg/kg) and CHHF (400 mg/kg) significantly decreased paw licking in the formalin test’s late phase by up to 36% (p < 0.05), while CHEF (200 mg/kg) and CHHF (400 mg/kg) reduced writhing by approximately 45% in the acetic acid test, demonstrating robust peripheral pain relief. CHME showed no toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg in mice. Flavonoids and phenolic acids, abundant in CHEF, likely mediate these effects. These findings validate Cola hispida ’s ethnomedicinal use and highlight its potential as a sustainable alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, supporting Sustainable Development Goals for health (SDG 3) and biodiversity (SDG 15).
Keywords: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, Cola hispida, ethyl acetate fraction, Ethnomedicine, flavonoids, sustainable development goals, Wistar rats