Pharmacological Potential of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti Nociceptive Activity of Bioactive Fractions from Leaves of Maytenus emarginata

The antinociceptive & anti-inflammatory activities of extract were compared to dose of Phenylbutazone. The phytochemical secondary metabolites tested for include alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids and terpenoids. Maytenus emarginata leaves extract demonstrated significant antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory effects in a dose-dependent manner. The extract dose at 200mg/kg bw exhibited the highest antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities & its activities were comparable to those of the respective reference drugs. BFLME (suspended in 1% carboxy methyl cellulose) in doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg caused a dose-dependent inhibition of swelling caused by carrageenin equivalent to 30.2–63.2% protection (P<0.05– P<0.001) and in cotton pellet granuloma, 47.2–45.4% protection (P<0.01-P<0.001) was observed from inflammation. There was a significant increase in analgesiometer force induced pain in rat equivalent to 98.1–146.5% protection (P<0.01-P<0.001) and 7.19–37.8 % (P<0.05–P<0.001) protection against Acetic acid induced writhing. Phytochemical screening of the extract indicated the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids and terpenoids. The present study therefore demonstrated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of bioactive fraction of ethyl acetate extract from leaves of M. emarginata (BFLME), hence providing a basis for further research that may result in pure compounds that can be advanced into drug discovery.