In vitro and In vivo Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory Activity of Methanol Stem Bark Fraction of Morinda lucida BENTH

Aims: To investigate the anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanol extract fraction of Morinda lucida stem bark.

Methodology: Pulverized dried M. lucida stem bark was cold macerated in methanol for 72 hours. The liquid extract was filtered and then concentrated to a semi solid form. The extract was fractionated using vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) to get the methanol fraction based on increasing solvent polarity. The methanol fraction was screened using standard phytochemical methods. In-vivo model (rat hind paw oedema inhibition) and In vitro models (egg albumin denaturation and red blood cell membrane stabilization) were employed for anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of the methanol fraction.

Results: Phytoconstituents of therapeutic importance (flavonoid, tannin, saponin and anthraquinone glycosides) were present in the methanol fraction of Morinda lucida (MFML). At doses of 50 mg/kg bw, 100 mg/kg bw and 200 mg/kg bw the extract exhibited significant In vivo anti-inflammatory activity in animal models with no significant difference at p ˃ .05) with respect to standard diclofenac. The red blood cell membrane stabilization and albumin denaturation tests demonstrated In vitro concentration-dependent anti-inflammatory effects at concentration range of 0.2 – 1.0 mg/ml with no statistically significant difference at p ˃ .05 with respect to the standard drug (indomethacin).

Conclusion: M. lucida stem bark possesses significant anti-inflammatory property suspected to be due to the presence of many bioactive constituents particularly flavonoids. The extract, therefore, comes as a good biobased alternative to synthetic anti-inflammatory medications.