STUDY OF THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS FROM LEAVES OF NYMPHAEA LOTUS L. (NYMPHAEACEA)

In Côte d'Ivoire, the decoction of Nymphaea lotus leaves is traditionally used to treat inflammation. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts from these plant leaves in laboratory on rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The doses of phytomedecines administered orally to the rats were: 840, 1400, 4200 mg/kg. The results obtained with aqueous extracts of Nymphaea lotus were compared, on the one hand with those of the physiological control (NaCl 0.9%) and on the other hand with those of diclofenac 25 mg/kg, reference anti-inflammatory in this study. The different comparisons were made at 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 12h and 24h after injection of carrageenan. The parameters considered were: percentage increase in paw circumference (%AUG) and percentage of treatment inhibition (%INH). The results showed a significant difference at p<0.001 between %AUG of phytomedicine treatments at different doses and those of NaCl. However, at the dose of 4200 mg/kg, the %AUG of the phytomedicine were statically similar to those of diclofenac 25 mg/kg. Comparisons of %INH showed the same results with %AUG. This study therefore reveals that Nymphaea lotus leaves have anti-inflammatory properties. This study therefore provides good evidence for the use of Nymphaea lotus leaves decoction in traditional medicine to combat inflammation.