Phytochemical analysis, anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy of the ethanol leaf extract and fractions of <i>Spondia dulcis</i> in mice

The design of this work was to screen the ethanol leaf extract of Spondias dulcis for its phytochemicals and study the antiinflammatory and analgesic efficacy in mice to support its local use in pain and inflammatory diseases management. The leaves of S. dulcis were collected, shade dried, pulverised and extracted with ethanol (60%) for 72 hours. Filtration was achieved by the use of Whatman filter paper and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. Part of the ethanol extract (100 g) was partitioned successively with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanol and the various fractions were again concentrated to dryness individually. The ethanol leaf extract of S. dulcis was screened for the presence of secondary metabolites, studied for anti-inflammatory effects using egg-albumin and xylene topical oedema models and also studied for analgesic effects with acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate pain models. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, phlobatannins, saponins and terpenoids was detected in the ethanol leaf extract. The extract displayed significant (p≤ 0.05) anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in a dose-dependent way and similar to prototype drugs, ASA (Aspirin) and dexamethasone when compared to control groups pretreated with distilled water (10 mL/kg). Ethyl acetate fraction (ETA)was most potent in all experimental models. The result of this study validates the ethnomedicinal use of S. dulcis leaves by the Usaka people in the management of inflammatory pain diseases.