Maxwell I. Ezeja^1,, Yusuf N.Omeh², Samuel O. Onoja¹, Ijeoma H. Ukaonu²

Inflammation and oxidative stress are features of many degenerative diseases. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the methanolic leaf extract of Cissus aralioides in vivo and in vitro. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the carrageenan and formalin-induced paw edema models and Nitric oxide (NO) scavenging ability, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) photometric assay. In the anti-inflammatory study, doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg of the extract were used orally. Acetylsalicylic acid (200 mg/kg) was used as a reference drug while concentrations of Cissus aralioides extract (CAE) ranging from 25- 800 µg/ml were used for DPPH and NO scavenging ability. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, CAE caused dose-dependent increase in percentage edema inhibition, increasing percentage inhibition of edema from 0% in the negative control group to 41% at 6^th h at 600 mg/kg. In the formalin-induced paw edema model, CAE significantly (p < 0.05) and dose dependently increased the percentage edema inhibition and decreased the paw edema volumes on day 1. Cissus aralioides extract showed different percentage increase in the nitric oxide scavenging ability, increasing it from 24.94% at 25 µg/ml to 57.41% at 800 µg/ml while in the DPPH assay; CAE caused a concentration dependent increase in antioxidant activity from 1.88% at 25 µg/ml to 52.55% at 400 µg/ml. In conclusion, the results suggest that Cissus aralioides may be of benefit in ameliorating inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions.

anti-inflammatory, Cissus aralioides, Carrageenan, Formalin, Edema, antioxidant