ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITES OF HIBSCUS SABDARIFFA AND BALANITES AEGYPTIACA SEEDS EXTRACTS IN RATS

Abstract

Background: H. sabdariffa (Linn) and Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) are multipurpose plants used widely in the Sudan for their nutritional, cosmetic, industrial and medicinal values. The seeds oil has been used by natives to treat rheumatism; so this study was designed to investigate the efficacy of seed extracts of H. sabdariffa and B. aegyptiaca in the treatment of inflammation. Materials and methods: The anti-inflammatory effect of petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts of H. sabdariffa and Balanites aegyptiaca seeds was assessed on acute and chronic models by using carrageennan induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats, respectively. The analgesic activity of the petroleum ether extract of seeds was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhes in rats. The acute and sub-chronic toxicities were performed to explore the safety of the extracts. Gas Chromatography was also done for petroleum ether extracts for both plants. Results: In acute anti-inflammatory models, oral administration of the petroleum ether extracts of H. sabdariffa and B. aegyptiaca seeds significantly inhibited the hind paw oedema induced by carrageenan compared with the control. The inhibition of oedema by B. aegyptiaca seeds petroleum ether extract was better than that observed in rats treated with H. sabdariffa. The antiinflammatory effect of B. aegyptiaca and high dose of H. sabdariffa seeds petroleum ether extract was comparable to indomethacin used as a standard antiinflammatory drug. Moreover, the ethanolic extracts of both plants seeds failed in reducing paw oedema compared with the control. The petroleum ether extract of H. sabdariffa seeds exhibited significant inhibition in vascular permeability in rats induced by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid compared with the control but less than that observed in diclofenac sodium used as a standard antiinflammatory drug. In cotton pellet granuloma method, H. sabdariffa and B. xii aegyptiaca seeds petroleum ether extracts produced significant inhibition in granuloma at a dose of 4 and 8 ml/kg when compared with the control, the inhibition degree by B. aegyptiaca seeds was superior than that by H. sabdariffa seeds but inferior to the inhibition caused in diclofenac sodium used as a standard anti-inflammatory drug. The petroleum ether extract of H. sabdariffa and B. aegyptiaca significantly reduced the abdominal constrictions produced by injection of 0.7% acetic acid especially at higher doses compared with the control group. The acute oral toxicity study of H. sabdariffa and B. aegyptiaca seeds petroleum ether extracts proved the safety of the extracts up to 20 ml/kg for 24 hours. Oral administration of the B. aegyptiaca petroleum ether extract for 21 days did not have any signs of toxicity, which was evidenced by insignificant change in haematological parameters especially in rats treated with 4 ml/kg as well as the activities of ALT, AST, ALP and total proteins which are taken as markers for liver function tests and the levels of urea and creatinine as indicators for renal function tests compared with the control. Sections of different organs showed insignificant histopathological changes, with exception of two kidneys which showed focal degenerative changes in rats that given high dose of B. aegyptiaca petroleum ether extract. Gas chromatography analysis of H. sabdariffa seeds oil revealed the presence of linolelaidic acid, palmatic acid and arachidic acid, whereas, B. aegyptiaca seeds oil contains capric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid. Conclusion: This study confirmed the traditional uses of H. sabdariffa and B. aegyptiaca seeds as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents, which may be attributed to their fatty acid contents.