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Background of study: Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances which can be used to treat various infectious diseases. Aim: The study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract of Justicia secunda Vahl leaf. Methods: The acute toxicity was performed with up and down method and the highest dose used was 2 g/kg. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the carrageenan and formalin-induced paw edema models, and antinociceptive activity was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing reflex and tail flick test models while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-2picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) photometric assay. Results: The extract was well tolerated as no signs of toxicity or death were noticed during the period of observation. The extract produced a concentration dependent increase in antioxidant activities in both DPPH and FRAP models. The extract produced its optimum activity at 400 lg/ml in both DPPH (54.07%) assay and FRAP (1.58 lM) assay. The extract produced significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent increase in both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the extract (0.4 g/kg) were comparable with the reference drugs (aspirin and pentazocine) used in the study. Conclusion: This study suggests that J. secunda possesses anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activities and also provide the pharmacological basis for its uses in traditional medicine for these purposes.

Aframomum melegueta Schum (Zingiberaceae) is a perennial herb widely cultivated for its valuable seeds in the tropical region of Africa. The present study evaluated the antioxidant effects of methanolic seed extract of A. melegueta. The antioxidant effects were evaluated using in vitro, 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazine photometric assay and in vivo serum catalase, superoxide dismutase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay method. The extract (25–400 μg/mL concentration) produced concentration dependent increase in antioxidant activity in 2, 2-diphenylpicrylhydrazine photometric assay. The extract (400 mg/kg) showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in serum catalase and superoxide dismutase activity when compared with the control group. The extract (400 mg/kg) showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the serum level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance when compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the seed of A. melegueta has potent antioxidant activity which may be responsible for some of its reported pharmacological activities and can be used as antioxidant supplement.

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