Antinociceptive, Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Morinda Lucida Leaves in Experimental Animals
N. Nwobodo¹, S. A. Igwe¹* and C. A. Agbata²¹Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, ESUT College of Medicine, Park Lane, GRA, Enugu Nigeria.
²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria.
Abstract: Morinda lucida Linn, (Rubiaceae) is a tropical plant indigenous to West Africa, has crown dense branchelets, slender leaves, with yellow wood when fresh and changes colour when exposed, and is used in folk medicine for various purposes. The antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of aqueous extract of the leaves of Morinda lucida was studied using animal models. Results showed that the aqueous extract of M. lucida was devoid of severe toxicity (LD50 986.6 ± 2.65 mg/kg body weight), raised the painthreshold in rats using the hotplate or thermal method, reduced drug-induced abdominal constrictions or algesic effect, reduced carrageenan-induced rat-paw oedema and demonstrated substantial antipyretic properties in vaccine-induced hyperthermia in rabbits. These results are comparable to standard non-steroidal anti-inflammary agent (acetylsalicylic acid). It is concluded that the aqueous extract of the leaves of M. lucida can demonstrate strong analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potency comparable in a time and dose-dependent manner to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
Keywords: Morinda lucida analgesic; antipyretic anti inflammantory Back to TOC