Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Chloroform Extract of Bauhinia purpurea L. (Leguminosae) Leaves in Animal Models

Abstract

Bauhinia purpurea L. (Leguminosae), has been used traditionally to treat ailments like sores, wounds and diarrhea. The present study was carried out to establish the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of chloroform extract of B. purpurea leaves using animal models. The air-dried, powdered leaves (≈ 20 g) were soaked in chloroform (1:20; w v^-1) for 72 h and the supernatant obtained was then evaporated to dryness. The crude dried extract (≈ 1.323 g), dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, was prepared in the doses of 20, 100 and 200 mg kg^-1 and then subjected to the respective antinociceptive (abdominal constriction, hot plate and formalin tests) and anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw edema test) assays. The results obtained indicate that the extract possess significant (p<0.05), but concentration-independent, antinociceptive activity when assessed using the abdominal constriction-and hot plate-test. This activity was also, significantly (p<0.05) observed in the early and late phases of the formalin test. The extract also exhibited significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory activity in a non-concentration-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, the 100 mg kg^-1 extract showed a less remarkable anti-inflammatory activity compared to the other doses tested. The chloroform extract of B. purpurea contain bioactive compounds with potential peripheral and central antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities that requires further investigation.