The Analgesic activity and phytochemical studies of an aqueous extract of leaves of Afrormosia laxiflora (Fabaceae) in an animal model

Abstract

Afrormosia laxiflora is a plant widely used in traditional African medicine. The leaves are used for various therapeutic purposes, particularly in the treatment of painful manifestations, fever and inflammatory diseases. However, few scientific studies seem to have studied these properties. In order to help promote traditional African medicine, our study aimed to evaluate the analgesic activity and the phytochemical composition of an aqueous extract of Afrormosia laxiflora leaves in an animal model.

The analgesic activity of the leaves of Afrormosia laxiflora was evaluated against a thermal stimulus, by the immersion test of the mouse tail in warm water, and against a chemical stimulus, by the irritation test of the paw rat with formaldehyde. A phytochemical sorting was carried out on the extract to identify the chemical groups that could be responsible for this activity.

The aqueous leaf extract of Afrormosia laxiflora was analgesic at doses of 625 mg / kg, 1250 mg / kg and 2500 mg / kg with a dose-dependent activity. This activity remains less than that of morphine, but better than that of paracetamol. The phytochemical study of the aqueous leaf extract of Afrormosia laxiflora showed the presence of polyphenols including flavonoids and tannins, alkaloids, saponosides and terpenes, phytochemical groups that could be responsible for the analgesic properties of this extract.

The aqueous leaf extract of Afrormosia laxiflora has analgesic activity and anti-inflammatory potential which could be further evaluated for its traditional use against pain.