Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of the stem bark aqueous extract of Terminalia superba Engl. and Diels (Combretaceae) in rats

Résumé

Terminalia superba is a plant commonly used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases including abdominal pain. This study aims to assess the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potentials of a total aqueous extract of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae) stem bark (TAETs).

TAETs was prepared by infusing 100 g of Terminalia superba stem bark powder for 15 min. 100 to 120 g albino rats (Rattus norvegicus) of 8-12 weeks old were used. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of TAETs were evaluated respectively through the models of paw edema induced with 0.1 mL of fresh egg albumin or carrageenan and the model of hyperthermia induced with a subcutaneous injection of an aqueous suspension of brewer's yeast (20%) in the dorso-lateral region. Normal saline (NaCl, 9 ‰), TAETs (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (bw)) and aspirin^® (100 mg/kg bw) were orally administered.

Results indicated that TAETs significantly reduced the plantar edema caused by the injection of fresh egg albumin compared to control (NaCl, 9 ‰) with an inhibition percentage of 39.80% on the 5^th hour and 84.35% for carrageenan on the 3^rd hour of experimentation. The dose of 500 mg/kg bw of TAETs decreased the hyperthermia caused by brewer's yeast solution from 37.52 ± 0.12 to 36.08 ± 0.30 °C on the 2^nd hour of experimentation.

TAETs possesses anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties similar to that of aspirin^® when administered in rats by oral route.