Abstract

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF THE METHANOL AND N- HEXANE EXTRACTS OF SANSEVIERA LIBERICA GÉRÔME AND LABROY IN RATS

*Awemu G.A., Agbai E.O, Anowi F. and Ramos G.F.

ABSTRACT

The methanol and n-hexane extracts of Sanseviera liberica were evaluated orally at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg against carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. The methanol extract produced a dose dependent inhibition of inflammation with the highest percentage inhibition (55.2 %) occuring at the dose of 200 mg/kg after 4 hours while the 50 mg/kg group produced the least percentage inhibition of inflammation of 10.0 % after 2 hours. The n-hexane extract did not produce any significant inhibition of inflammation at the doses evaluated. Phytochemical screening of the extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids, steroids and terpenoids in the methanol extract while tannins, steroids and terpenoids were present in the n-hexane extract. Acute toxicity studies gave an LD50 value of 1350 mgkg-1. Results of this investigation vindicate the use of the polar extract by traditional medicine practitioners in the treatment of inflammation.

Keywords: Inflammation, extracts, rats, inhibition.