Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Ethanolic Stem Extract of Jatropha curcas Obtained from Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Pain attends almost all ailments. This study investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanol stem extract of Jatropha curcas. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity study was carried out according to standard procedures. Analgesic activity was investigated by measuring the number of acetic acid induced writhing in twenty-five mice while anti-inflammatory activity was studied using egg albumin-induced paw oedema in rats using the same dose. The standard drug, indomethacin at 10 mg/kg and ethanolic stem extract of Jatropha curcas at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg were administered intraperitoneally to 25 wistar rats 30 minutes before induction of oedema and paw volume over a period of 2 hours was measured. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and cardiac glycosides. Acute toxicity study revealed extract is relatively safe at 2000 mg/kg. Extract at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg exhibited significant analgesic activity in a non-dose dependent manner. The highest percentage inhibition of abdominal constriction for extract, 91.76 %, was observed at 100 mg/kg (p < 0.05) while that of diclofenac sodium at 40 mg/kg was 92.9 %. Result of anti-inflammatory screening using ethanol stem extract of J. curcas showed marked inhibition of paw oedema in rats. At 20 minutes, the extract (300 mg/kg) significantly inhibited inflammation at early phase compared to indomethacin (10 mg/kg) at same time. At 120 minutes, indomethacin (10 mg/kg) significantly reduced the paw size. This result suggests ethanol stem extract of J. curcas has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and hence may be useful for treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions.