ABSTRACT
Background: Waltheria americana has been used in African folklore for the treatment of minor and complicated ailments like pain, fever and rheumatism. Aim: To investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of Waltheria americana, and its possible mechanism of action in Swiss mice and Wistar rats, respectively. Materials and Methods: Methanol extract of Waltheria americana leaf was evaluated for anti-nociceptive activities (using tail flick, formalin-induced paw licking and acetic acid-induced writhing tests in mice), and possible mechanisms of action using Atropine (5mg/kg i.p), prazosin (1mg/kg p.o), glibenclamide (8mg/kg p.o), propranolol (40mg/kg p.o), naloxone (2mg/kg i.p) nifedipine (10 mg/kg p.o) using acetic acid and tail-flick models of analgesia. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated in carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma tests. Results: Acute toxicity revealed no mortality in the mice up to a dose of 2000mg/kg. The phytochemistry revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and terpenoids. The extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) produced inhibition (p
Key words: Anti-nociception, Waltheria americana, Nifedipine, Prazosin, Atropine, anti-inflammatory
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