The effect of Cordia platythyrsa on various experimental models of pain and carrageenan induced inflammation

Abstract

Only one study has reported on the medicinal properties of Cordia platythyrsa (C. platythyrsa) though it is used in African traditional medicine for treatment of fever and pain. The current study aimed at investigating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of C. platythyrsa using various animal models: writhing test, tail flick, thermal hyperalgesia, mechanically induced-pain, formalin-induced pain and carrageenan-induced inflammation tests. Like aspirin, the two doses of plant extracts used inhibited acetic acid-induced pain though these effects were weaker than the effects of morphine. Although, the plant extract significantly (p<0.01) inhibited thermal pain, its effects were less significant compared to morphine. Celecoxib (10 mg/kg) and plant extract (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited thermal hyperalgesia compared to indomethacin. On the other hand, both doses of plant extract significantly increased mechanical pain thresholds 30 and 90 min post treatment. The plant extract (150 mg/kg) inhibited both the neurogenic and inflammatory pain phases of formalin-induced pain as well as carrageenan-induced inflammation. This study is the first to show that C. platythyrsa has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of the medicinal species of the genusCordia(Boraginaceae)

“…Dichloromethane extract of leaves and stem of C. curassavica showed significant anti‐inflammatory activity . Methanol bark extract of Cordia platythyrsa and ethanol leaf extract of C. macleodii also showed potential anti‐inflammatory activity . Nystatin‐induced oedema and miconazole‐induced oedema in rats were reduced by leaf extract of C. verbenacea (Tables and ).…”

“…Methanol extract of C. verbenacea and the rosmarinic acid isolated from it inhibited the oedema induced by snake venom of Bothrops C. platythyrsa Anti-inflammatory The methanol extract of the bark showed significant anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenaninduced rat paw oedema [178] Analgesic The methanol extract of the bark demonstrated analgesic activity against various models of pain such as writhing test, tail flick, thermal hyperalgesia, mechanically induced pain and formalin-induced pain in rats [178] C. rothii Immunomodulatory Ethyl acetate fraction and n-hexane fraction obtained from leaves were reported to have immunomodulatory effect in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated T-cell proliferation, oxidative burst and nitric oxide (NO) assays [93] Antidiabetic The ethanol extract of the bark produced significant hypoglycaemic effect in rats [191] Wound healing Topical application of the extract prepared from leaves showed improved wound healing in rats [193] C. rufescens Immunomodulatory Chloroform and ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts demonstrated immunomodulatory activity in mouse lymphocytes and macrophages [217] C. salicifolia Antiviral Partially purified extract of whole plant displayed antiviral against herpes simplex virus type 1 [218] Antioxidant A methanol fraction of the leaves showed potent free radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity [221] C. sebestena Antidiabetic The ethanol extract of the leaves was active in reducing hyperglycaemia and liver glycogen level in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats [193] Antibacterial The ethyl acetate extract showed strong antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [205] C. spinescens Anti-HIV The water extract of the leaves was reported to have potent inhibitory action on HIV reverse transcriptase enzyme with IC 50 values of 6-8 lg/ml [134,219] C. superba Immunomodulatory Chloroform and ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts demonstrated immunomodulatory activity in mouse lymphocytes and macrophages [217] C. verbenacea Antimicrobial The essential oil obtained from aerial parts and leaves was found to have antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and yeast, but it was inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. A hexane extract of the leaves also shown antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus [42,137,145,162,163,175] Antioxidant The ethyl acetate extract and the extract obtained by SFE using a 25% aqueous mixture of ethanol was found to have potent antioxidant activity...…”

“…[177] Methanol bark extract of Cordia platythyrsa and ethanol leaf extract of C. macleodii also showed potential anti-inflammatory activity. [178,179] Figure 4 Lupane-and ursane-type terpenoids isolated from the genus Cordia.…”

“…[55,178,181,188,189] Hydrogel prepared from the C. macleodii leaves was evaluated topically for analgesic activity using hot plate analgesiometer in mice. The gel showed significant analgesic activity.…”

“…Analgesic activity of Cordia plants was reported by C. curassavica, C. verbenacea, C. dichotoma, C. macleodii, C. myxa and C. platythyrsa . Analgesic activity was found in ethanolic leaf extract of C. verbenacea and C. dichotoma , while methanolic bark extract of C. platythyrsa and hydroalcoholic fruit extract of C. myxa also showed significant analgesic activity . Hydrogel prepared from the C. macleodii leaves was evaluated topically for analgesic activity using hot plate analgesiometer in mice.…”