Evaluation of anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of leaf extract of Turraea vogelli Hook. f. ex. Benth.

The leaf extract of Turraea vogelii Hook. f. ex. Benth. is used in ethnomedicine for the management of pain and inflammation. Anti-nociceptive activity was determined using acetic acid-induced mouse writhing model. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using in-vitro bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation assay and BSA-induced hind paw edema in rats. The extract (125-500 mg/kg) administered via the oral route produced a significant (p<0.005) inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhes. The percent inhibition of writhes for extract (500 mg/kg) and diclofenac (10 mg/kg) was 53.3 and 59.5% respectively. The methanol extract (10-1.0 μg/mL) inhibited protein denaturation with ICvalues of (1.06 × 10 μg/mL and 2.58 × 10 μg/mL) for extract and diclofenac respectively. Furthermore, the leaf extract (62.5 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) inhibited BSA-induced paw edema in rats. The methanol leaf extract of T. vogelii has anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. These findings justify the use of the plant in traditional medicine for the management of pain and inflammation.