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Anti-pyretic,
anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoeal properties of
Faidherbia albida in rats
A. Y. Tijani1*,
M. O. Uguru2 and O. A. Salawu1
1Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute for
Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Idu Industrial
Area, P. M. B. 21, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
2Department
of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
University of Jos, Nigeria.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ade_dat@yahoo.com
Accepted
22 November, 2007 |
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Faidherbia albida Del. (local name: Gawo) is employed traditionally to treat
disorders such as fever, diarrhoea, urticaria, vomiting,
cough, rheumatism and heamorrhage. The present study was
carried out to scientifically appraise some of the folkloric
uses of the plant. The crude aqueous extract was studied for
acute toxicity, its anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory and
anti-diarrhoeal effects using yeast-induced pyrexia,
kaolin-induced oedema and castor oil-induced diarrhoeal
models in rats. The extract was not lethal to the rats dosed
at 5000 mg/kg body weight. At a dose of 500 mg/kg body
weight, it significantly (P < 0.05) decreased yeast-induced
pyrexia in rats. At doses of 250 and 500 mg extract/kg body
weight, the extract significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited
kaolin-induced acute inflammation and reduced frequency of
diarrhea in the rats. These results indicate that aqueous
extract of F. albida possesses potent anti-pyretic,
anti-inflammatory and anti-diarrhoeal effects and thus
pharmacologically justifies its folkloric use in the
management of fever, rheumatic inflammatory conditions and
diarrhoea.
Key
words:
Faidherbia albida,
aqueous extract, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti
diarrhoeal. |
