Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive potentials of Salacia lehmbachii leaves

For decades, the leaves of Salacia lehmbachii Loes (SL), which belong to the family of Celastraceae are acceptably used in south-eastern parts of Nigeria in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever and painful conditions. This study assessed the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of its water extracts on inflammation and nociception in rats. Doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of water extract of SL were used in elucidating anti-inflammatory activities in Wistar rats and mice by using carrageenan, egg albumin-induced paw and xylene-induced ear oedema; while acetic acid-induced writhing/abdominal muscle constriction, formalin-induced nociception and tail immersion models were used for analgesic study. In each study, 30 animals were randomly selected and grouped into five with six animals per group. Group 1(control) received 20 mL/kg of distilled water; groups 2 to 4 received 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively; while group 5 received 150 mg/kg of aspirin and 10 mg/kg of morphine (tail immersion study). The ED50 of the water extract was 200 mg/kg. The water extract of the SL leaves showed significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent effects in all the parameters. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg showed comparable effects to those effects exhibited by the respective positive controls: - aspirin (anti-inflammatory study); aspirin and morphine (analgesic study). The water extract of the SL leaves possesses potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The results justify the claim by the herbalists and its use in folkloric medicines for pains and conditions associated with pains.