ANTI-INFLAMMATORY POTENTIAL OF THE AQUEOUS ROOT EXTRACT OF ARISTOLOCHIA RINGENS (VAHL)

Akinlami Omokehinde Oseni*, Famobuwa Edward Olaniyi, and Fehintola Ezekiel Oluwaseun

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous root extract of Aristolochia ringens (AR) (10-100 mg/kg p.o). Aqueous root extract of Aristolochia ringens was evaluated for anti-inflammatory potential using standard Carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. The activities of the extract at varying doses were compared to indomethacin a standard anti-inflammatory drug. In all the experiment, AR (10-100 mg/kg) significantly (P= 0.05) reduced increase in rat paw size with a peak effect of 57.10% observed by the sixth hour at 25 mg/kg. This is comparable to the 57.90% reduction by indomethacin (10 mg/kg) at the fourth hour, by which time AR (50 mg/kg) produced a comparable 52.60%. This results show that the aqueous of Arisolochia rigens possesses anti-inflammatory potential. It is therefore advisable that the use of this extract in herbal medicine should be encouraged.

Keywords: Aristolochia ringens, anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan, herbal medicine.