Potential pharmacological properties of methanol leaves extract of Culcasia Angolensis (Araceae): antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities in laboratory animals

Abstract

Abstract Background Pain, inflammation and fever are serious conditions that are associated with various disease conditions. In modern medicine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids together with corticosteroids have been considered to manage algesia and inflammation-related conditions. However, these conventional drugs are not affordable, not readily available, particularly to people living in rural areas in developing nations. Besides, they are associated with undesirable pharmacological actions. Generally, medicinal plants have been employed to manage various ailments. In Northern-Nigeria, the leaves of Culcasia angolensis (Araceae) are used traditionally to manage pain, fever and inflammation. However, scientific data validating its folkloric claim in treating pain and inflammatory-related abnormalities are not available. Hence, the current study aims to validate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potentials of the methanol leaf extract of Culcasia angolensis (MECA). Phytochemical and acute toxicity effects of the MECA were conducted as per standard experimental procedures. The analgesic potential of the MECA was determined using abdominal writhing elicited by acetic acid and hot plate tests in mice. The actions of the MECA on acute inflammation were conducted using formalin-induced hind paw oedema and carrageenan-induced paw oedema. The Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia was employed to check its antipyretic effect. Results The MECA inhibited abdominal writhes produced by acetic acid administration (p < 0.05) and elevated the pain threshold in the hot plate test. The MECA also reduced the formalin-induced paw oedema. Besides, it produced an effective (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent action against oedema produced by carrageenan and reduced the rectal temperature against the pyrexia caused by Brewer's yeast administration. Conclusions The outcome of the study suggests that the MECA could possess pharmacologically active constituents with antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. Therefore, the results justified its ethnomedicinal use to manage pain and inflammatory-associated conditions.