Comparative Analysis of Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, and Antioxidant Properties of Fagaropsis hildebrandtii and Fagaropsis angolensis Extracts

Fagaropsis hildebrandtii and Fagaropsis angolensis are widely used across East, Central, and Southern parts of Africa as traditional remedies for the management of various disorders associated with inflammation, pain, and oxidative stress. However, it remains unclear whether F. hildebrandtii and F. angolensis plant parts have equivalent efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties of the two medicinal plants. This was an experimental controlled research design. The study area was Embu and Makueni Counties. Methanol and water extracts of powdered F. hildebrandtii stem bark and F. angolensis leaves were prepared by maceration. Different extract concentrations were then tested for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activity using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, acetic acid-induced writhing model, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay, respectively. Comparative analysis revealed that F. hildebrandtii stem bark extract had higher anti-inflammatory activity compared to F. angolensis leaves (P < 0.05). However, F. angolensis leaves exhibited significantly greater analgesic activity than F. hildebrandtii stem bark extracts (P < 0.05). Comparison of antioxidant activities of the extracts did not show any significant differences (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the findings indicate variation in analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, but not in the antioxidant properties of F. hildebrandtii and F. angolensis. The study recommends plant preservation, active pharmaceutical ingredient identification, testing in non-human primates, and in clinical trials.