Thesis Abstract

<p> Inflammation is a complex biological response of<br>vascular tissue to harmful stimuli such as pathogen,<br>damage cells or irritants (Ryan &amp; Majno, 1983). The<br>urgency generated by increased rate of stroke,<br>atherosclerosis attribute due to prolonged use of<br>cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase- 2 inhibitors<br>have accelerated anti-inflammatory drug research over<br>the last decade while synthetic pharmaceutical agents<br>continued to dominate research (Ryan &amp; Majno, 1983).<br>Attention increasingly has been directed to natural<br>products. These are often more affordable and available<br>and sometimes are perceived as more effective than<br>conventional anti- inflammatory drugs.<br>Anti-inflammation was carried out using 12 rats<br>which was divided into three groups of 4 rats each.<br>Group 1 and 2 served as the negative and positive<br>control respectively. Group 3 received 25mg/kg b.w. of<br>the dichloromethane fraction of methanol extract of<br>6<br>Crateva adansonii showed significance anti-inflammatory<br>activity when compared with the standard difference<br>used. <br></p>

Thesis Overview

<p> INTRODUCTION AIM AND OBJECTIVES<br>Inflammation is one of body’s natural ways of protecting<br>itself. It is also an essential reaction of the body to<br>infection. Too little of an inflammatory response, and the<br>body is unable to repel microbial invasions or heal<br>injuries. Too much of an inflammatory response, and the<br>immune system begins attacking the body’s own organs<br>eventually leading to chronic disease (Sears, 2000).<br>Anti-Inflammatory refers to the property of a<br>substance or treatment that reduces inflammation.<br>There are obvious clinical markers of inflammation which<br>include pain, redness, fever, swelling and loss of<br>function (Pai et al. 2004). However if inflammation is<br>allowed to continue unchecked it may results in<br>neurodegenerative disease or cancer (Pai et al. 2004). A<br>variety of safe and effective anti-inflammatory agents<br>are available including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory<br>drugs, corticosteroids.<br>Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID are<br>usually indicated for the treatment of acute and chronic<br>inflammation. NSAIDS work by reducing the production<br>of prostaglandins (Bayness &amp; Marek, 2005).<br>Prostaglandins are chemicals that promote<br>inflammation, pain and fever. The enzymes that produce<br>prostaglandins are phospholipaseA2, PGH2synthase and<br>Cyclooxygenase (Cox). There are two types of COX<br>enzymes, cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) and<br>cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). NSAIDS reduce the<br>production of prostaglandin by inhibiting COX enzymes<br>resultant effect is that, therefore, inflammation, pain<br>and fever are reduced. Some herbs and plants possess<br>anti-inflammatory and they include:<br>S/No Common<br>Name<br>Botanical<br>Name<br>1 Andiroba oil Carapa<br>guianensis<br>It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids<br>that promote skin healing from<br>cuts and may slow growth of skin<br>cells in psoriasis and age spots.<br>It relieves pain and swelling<br>2 Alfalfa Medicago<br>sativa L.<br>It serves as an oxidant in the<br>blood stream. They are staple of<br>salads and contain nutrient, the<br>leaves hold the best healing<br>potential and contain<br>phytoestrogens that could be<br>beneficial in menopausal and<br>breast feeding women.<br>3 Aloe Vera Gel Aloe vera The leaf juices of the aloe plant<br>have important medicinal uses.<br>It stimulates collagen synthesis<br>and skin regeneration after a<br>burn; it helps heal acne, improve<br>the appearance of wrinkles and<br>hydrate damaged skin.<br>4 Apple Malus<br>domestica<br>Other names include apple cider<br>vinegar, wine vinegar. The best<br>of the medicinal compounds are<br>contained in the apple peel. It<br>helps in relieving arthritis, apple<br>contains malic and tartaric acids,<br>salts of potassium, sodium,<br>magnesium and iron.<br>Copyright © 2005-2013<br>Annie’s Remedy (Anniesremedy.com).<br>Crateva adansonii belonging to the family Capparacea<br>and phylum Magnoliophyta is small tree of forest and<br>savanna woodland, often on river-banks, widely<br>distributed in Nigeria and across Africa. The leaves are<br>applied externally to relieve pain in joint, the fresh juice<br>of leaves is used for the relief of ear-ache, eye infection<br>and anodyne in toothache. Powder of bark is used in<br>rheumatism, itch, epilepsy and asthma (Sivarajan &amp;<br>Balachandran, 1994).<br>1.2 Crateva adansonii as a plant.<br>The flowering tree Crateva adansonii is called the<br>sacred garlic pear and temple plant. The tree is<br>sometimes called the spider tree because the showy<br>flowers bear long, spidery stamens. It is native to Japan,<br>Australia, much of south East Asia and several south<br>pacific Islands. It grows in forest and savanna woodland,<br>often on river-banks from Senegal to N Nigeria, and<br>across Africa to Zaire, Tanganyika and Madagascar. The<br>plants common name is amakarode in Igbo, In Yoruba,<br>it is egun-orun and in Hausa, it is ungududu. The tree<br>attains approximately 15m height. The trunk is irregular,<br>seldom straight, but is worthy of cultivation as an<br>ornamental for its dense masses of white flowers borne<br>at the ends of all the shoots. In the bush, owing to grass<br>burning which it survives and repeated stripping of its<br>leaves, the tree is often stunted. The wood is soft and<br>yellow and strong-smelling when cut. The leaves are<br>however eaten in soups or mixed with cereals. They are<br>boiled and added to mixture called in Hausa “Kwado”<br>containing a paste of locust beans, Parkia Spp.<br>(Leguminosae Mimisoideae). The Yoruba consumes the<br>leaves as a potherb.<br>In upper volt they are the ingredient of sauces. To<br>some people the leaves are taken only in time of dearth<br>and they are sold in northern markets. The bark is<br>widely used for stomach-troubles in Nigeria. In Jebel<br>Marra a bark-paste is used as a poultice on swellings.<br>Crateva adansonii is a decidious plant with threepalmate<br>leaves. The leaves are arranged opposite one<br>another. They are elliptic with entire margins. The<br>flowers are pale green. The plants bloom from March to<br>May. The flowers are arranged in racemes. The fruits are<br>berries. It can withstand temperatures above &nbsp;and<br>c (Burkill, 1985).<br>Taxonomy<br>Family: Capparaceae<br>Genus: Crateva<br>Species: Crateva adansonii DC<br>Phylum/Division: Magnoliophyta<br>Sub division: Magnoliophytina<br>Classes: Rosopsida<br>Sub class: Dilleniidae<br>Super order: Violanae<br>Order: Capparales<br>The medicinal effect of Crateva adansonii plant bark<br>is includes general healing, leprosy, stomach troubles.<br>For the leaf, it is used in eye treatments, liver, for leaf;<br>a pain-killer, for roots, dropsy, swellings, edema, gout,<br>veneral diseases. Powder of bark is used in rheumatism,<br>itch, epilepsy and asthma.<br>1.3 Research Aim and Objectives<br>Aim:<br>To study the anti-inflammatory effect of<br>dichloromethane fraction extracts from Crateva<br>adansonii on rats.<br>Objectives:<br>i) To determine the anti-inflammatory effect of<br>Crateva adansonii extracts in methanol on rats.<br>ii) To determine the phytochemicals present in<br>Crateva adansonii extract in methanol on rats. <br></p>