Preclinical Evaluation of the Anti-inflammatory Properties of Plants Extracts of Ficus exasperata (Moraceae) on Wistar Rat Models

Introduction: In view of the rising global death rate associated with inflammatory diseases, a cost friendly, more effective and, safer drug with lesser side effects is needed. Inflammation is a part of the complex biological response of vascular tissue to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. It is characterized by redness, swollen joints, joint pain, heat, and loss of joint functions. Chronic inflammatory diseases have been recognized as the most significant cause of death in the world today, with more than 50% of all deaths being attributable to inflammation-related diseases. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Steroidal anti-inflammatory (SAIDs) are used throughout the world for the treatment and management of inflammation, pain, and fever. Since many NSAIDs are associated with, side effects such as gastrointestinal bleeding and suppressed function of the immune system, medicinal herbs are new alternatives to search out new chemical substances that would have better therapeutic results with low toxic profile. Recent studies on Ficus exasperata suggest that it might be as effective as some NSAIDs in the treatment of inflammation and related pain. Objectives: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of the different plants extracts of Ficus exasperata in rats of Wistar train. Methods: The powdered material of leaves of Ficus exasperata was extracted by decoction, infusion, aqueous maceration, and hydroethanolic maceration. Phytochemical screening was carried out on the four different extracts: aqueous extract, hydroethanolic extracts, decoction and Infusion. The anti-inflammatory properties of Ficus exasperata were evaluated in vitro by egg albumin and bovine albumin using the heat induced Protein denaturation assay. Results: The leaves of Ficus exasperata was effective in inhibiting albumin denaturation. Varying concentrations of the plant extract significantly, (p < 0.05) inhibited the denaturation of albumin when compared to the control group. Aspirin and Indomethacin showed a similar trend. The inhibition by the extract is concentration-dependent with 32.25 µg/ml having an inhibition of 8.89 for infusion, 9.66% for hydroethanolic, 10.29% for aqueous maceration, and 12.6% for decoction compared to indomethacin and aspirin with inhibition 36.94% and 40.36%, respectively. The highest percentage inhibition was seen at 1000 µg/mL with inhibition of 34.22% for aqueous maceration, 40.77% for infusion, 41.61 % for hydroethanolic and 42.34% for decoction compared to indomethacin and aspirin with 67.06% and 58.45%, respectively. The plants extracts showed anti-inflammatory activity by decreasing the rate of denaturation of protein. Conclusion: The studied extract justifies anti-inflammatory properties, which were confirmed by protecting against protein denaturation.