Ethanol whole plant extract of Ochna afzelii Theales (Ochnaceae) ameliorates anaphylactic inflammation in wistar rats

Research has shown that Ochna afzelii commonly known as African Plane or African Ochna or Afzel’s ochna is a rich source of complex flavonoids which are known to possess anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the immune-mediated anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol whole plant extract of O. afzelii in rats. The immune-mediated anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using egg albumin-induced active paw anaphylaxis model in rats; and histamine-induced paw edema model in Wistar rats For each of the models, thirty (30) Wistar rats weighing 150 ‐ 200 g were divided into five groups containing six (6) rats each and were orally administered with single doses of the following treatments: a negative control group (distilled water, 10 ml/kg), a positive control group (dexamethasone, 0.27 mg/kg), and three test groups receiving 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg of ethanol whole plant extract of Ochna afzelii respectively. The extract at the dose of 250mg/kg significantly (p˂0.05) inhibited paw inflammation at 2 hrs post antigen exposure compared to1 hr post antigen exposure of the same 250mg/kg group (within group comparison). The extract at 500 and 1000 mg/kg also significantly (p˂0.05) reduced paw edema induced by histamine, with the 1000 mg/kg dose showing effects comparable to dexamethasone. Ethanol whole plant extract of O. afzelii possess immune mediated anti-inflammatory activity in Wistar rats and this justifies the traditional use of the plant in management of anaphylactic disorders.