Phytochemical and mineral composition, safety and ameliorative potential of aqueous leaf of Prunus africana on pain, fever and inflammation.

This study evaluated the antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and safety of P. africana. For the antipyretic activity, 36 rats were used in six treatment groups (n=6) where fever was induced by turpentine injection then one hour later rectal temperatures were measured. Those that had an increase of 0.8 from initial temperature were considered pyretic and given various treatments. Temperature values were recorded for each treatment groups from time zero to the fourth hour. For analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities mice were used. Pain was induced by formalin and was evaluated by time spend in paw licking in seconds between zero to five minutes and fifteen to thirty minutes after formalin injection on the left hind paw. Inflammatory activity was evaluated by paw edema from formalin injection in the hind paw. The paw diameter was measured in mm from time zero to the third hour. For antipyretic activity, P. africana reduced temperature in all doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight) similarly between the hour intervals. All the doses reduced temperature from the zero hour to the second hour. The temperature remained similar in hours 3 and 4 as that in the second hour . By the fourth hour the temperatures had reduced to the same level as those in the normal control. All the doses reduced fever similar to the positive control (diclofenac). For anti-inflammatory activity, P. africana reduced paw edema in only two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) similarly between the hour intervals. These doses reduced temperature from the zero hour to the first hour. The reduction of paw edema remained similar in hours 2 and 3 as that in the first hour . By the third hour the edema had reduced to the same level as those in the normal control. The two doses reduced fever similar to the positive control (diclofenac). Dose 150 mg/kg body weight of P. africana did not show any change in paw edema from zero hour to the third hour. This shows P. africana has anti-inflammatory activities at only doses 50 and 100 mg/kg bw. For analgesic activities was compared to the negative control. P. africana at all doses displayed a low inhibition of pain in the early phase, meaning they had low centrally acting phytochemicals. This was similar to diclofenac. But at late phase dose 50 (similar to that of normal control) and 100 mg/kg body weight had activities higher than that at dose 150 mg/kg body weight and diclofenac. This means P. africana contain high concentrations of peripheral acting phytochemicals of pain. This shows dose of 50 mg/kg bw of P. africana works better for managing pain. P. africana caused hepatotoxicity at doses 260 and 450 mg/kg bw.