Studies on anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of crude methanol extracts of Zapoteca portoricensis

In Eastern Nigeria the aqueous and alcoholic extract of Zapoteca portoricensis are used traditionally for the treatment of tonsillitis, gastrointestinal disorders, as antidiarrhoic, anticonvulsant and antispasmodic. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of the methanol extracts of the root of Zapoteca portoricensis (Fabaceae) were examined. The effects of the extract on the acute and chronic inflammation were evaluated by egg-albumin-induced hind paw oedema and formaldehyde induced arthritis in rats (n=3). Phytochemical tests on the whole root and methanol extract were done by standard procedures while the acute toxicity tests were carried out by Lorke's method [1]. The oral LD₅₀ of the methanol extract was found to be 470mg/kg. The MIC and MBC for the crude methanol extract ranged between 0.57 to 4.55mg/ml. The killing rate constant of the crude methanol extract on clinical isolates ranged between 1.5474 to 3.054s^-1 depending on the isolate. The methanol extract of Z. portoricensis also showed significant (P<0.05) acute at the dose of 250mg/kg and chronic at the doses of 150 and 250mg/kg anti-inflammatory activities in rats. Several medicinal plants used in folkloric medicine have been scientifically proven to possess anti-inflammatory activities [2]. The plant may prove beneficial in the management of different inflammatory conditions with concomitant bacterial infection.

References: [1] Lorke, D.(1983).Archives of Toxicology 54, 275–287. [2]. Akah, P. A. and Nwambe, I. A. (1994) Ethnopharmacology 42, 179–182.