DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i03.064

Pages: 1190-1194

Background and Objective: Garcinia kola (Heckel) stem-bark is used by traditional medicine practitioners in Ogoni, Nigeria for treatment of dysmenorrhea and inflammatory disorders. The study was carried out to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of G. kola stem-bark. Materials and Methods: The extract was tested for anti-inflammatory effects against carrageenan and egg albumen-induced hind-paw oedema in rats and xylene-induced ear oedema in mice. Result: The extract showed significant (p< 0.05 – 0.01) and time dependent inhibitory effect against carrageenan and egg albumen-induced hind-paw acute inflammation. The highest dose of the extract (72mg/kg) showed a higher degree of inhibition of inflammation than acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Combination of the extract with ASA did not produce an additive or synergistic effect. Furthermore, there was also a significant (p<0.01), dose-dependent suppressive action against acute ear inflammation induced by xylene. Conclusion: Several mechanisms, including inhibition of the action or release of pro-inflammatory mediators, appear to account for the anti-inflammatory effect of G. kola stem-bark. This study has provided a pharmacological confirmation that G. kola stem-bark has good anti-inflammatory properties, which therefore vindicate its ethnobotanical uses.