Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiulcer properties of the extract of Uapaca guineensis (Euphorbiaceae)

Abstract

Uapaca guineensis is an euphorbiaceae used traditionally for the management of pain and inflammation. The present study was aimed to investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer properties of the methanol extract of stilt root barks of U. guineensis in rats and mice. The analgesic properties of U. guineensis were investigated using the acetic acid writhing, hot plate as well as pressure-induced pain models. This was followed by a study of the anti-inflammatory properties of this plant using the carrageenan-induced acute inflammation method. The anti-ulcer test was done using high doses of both the extract and indomethacin. The extract showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction of pain induced by all three models of nociception. It also had significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory properties and showed a non-ulcerative effect on gastric mucosa. Our results show that the methanolic extract of U. guineensis has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and importantly does not corrode gastric mucosa.   Key words: Pain, inflammation, nociceptive, writhing, ulcer.