Hydro-ethanol extract of Holarrhena foribunda stem bark exhibits anti-anaphylactic and anti-oedematogenic effects in murine models of acute inflammation
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Date
2022
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Abstract
Background: Holarrhena foribunda (G.Don) T.Durand & Schinz stem bark has anecdotal use in Ghanaian folk medicine for the management of inflammatory conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the bark extract using models of acute inflammation in male Sprague Dawley rats, C57BL/6 mice
and ICR mice.
Methods: A 70% hydro-ethanol extract of the stem bark (HFE) was evaluated at doses of 5–500 mg/kg bw. Local anaphylaxis was modelled by the pinnal cutaneous anaphylactic test. Systemic anaphylaxis or sepsis were modeled by
compound 48/80 or lipopolysaccharide, respectively. Clonidine-induced catalepsy was used to investigate the effect
on histamine signaling. Anti-oedematogenic effect was assessed by induction with carrageenan. Efects on mediators
of biphasic acute inflammation were studied using histamine and serotonin (early phase) or prostaglandin E2 (late
phase).
Results: HFE demonstrated anti-inflammatory and/or anti-oedematogenic activity comparable to standard doses of
aspirin and diclofenac (inhibitors of cyclooxygenases-1 and -2), chlorpheniramine (histamine H1-receptor antagonist),
dexamethasone (glucocorticoid receptor agonist), granisetron (serotonin receptor antagonist) and sodium cromoglycate (inhibitor of mast cell degranulation). All observed HFE bioactivities increased with dose.
Conclusions: The data provide evidence that the extract of H. foribunda stem bark has anti-anaphylactic and anti oedematogenic effects; by interfering with signalling or metabolism of histamine, serotonin and prostaglandin E2
which mediate the progression of inflammation. The anti-inflammatory and antihistaminic activities of HFE may be
relevant in the context of the management of COVID-19.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Anaphylaxis, COVID-19, Inflammation, Oedema, Prophylactic, Therapeutic