Anti-arthritic potential of aqueous leaf extract of Combretum platypterum (Welw) Hutch & Dalziel (Combretaceae) on rats

Abstract

Combretum platypterum is used in the treatment of malaria, swellings, lumps, conjunctivitis, backache, fever, helminthiasis and diarrhea in ethnomedicine. This study evaluates the anti-arthritis activity of aqueous leaf extract of C.platypterum. C. platypterum leaf sample was pulverized and the powdered sample was extracted using cold maceration, which was freeze dried, and graded doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract were administered for the anti-arthritis property using an established formaldehyde and Complete Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis models in rats. The result showed that the extract had a significant reduction in the diameter of formaldehyde induced inflammation at day 10 (0.97, 0.97, 0.67 and 0.8 mm) and Complete Freund’s adjuvant at day 28 (1.98, 1.79, 1.77, 1.43 mm) when compared with arthritis control for days 10 and 28 (2.95 and 4.06 mm) (p < 0.05). Percentage inhibition of the leaf extract in formaldehyde at day 10 (67.12, 67.12, 77.29, and 71.86 %) and Complete Freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis at day 28 (51.23, 55.91, 56.40 and 64.78 %) showed a significant increase in the inhibitory effect of C. platypterum in dose dependent order. The ankle weight, erythrocyte sedimentary rate (ESR) and malondialdehyde level had a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in graded doses on complete freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis rats when compared with arthritis control C. platypterum leaf extract elicited a significant (p < 0.05) increase in endogenous superoxide dismutase on complete freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis when compared with arthritis control. This study led it credence to C. platypterum leaf extract scientifically validated for its anti-arthritis property