Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing activities of smilax anceps leaves

Smilax anceps leaves are used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism in traditional medicine. The anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol leaf extract of Smilax anceps were investigated using carrageen an and egg albumin assays with in vitro human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization method. Fifty albino rats divided into twenty-fivealbino rats for each in-vivo model were then sub-divided into five groups of five rats each and were used. The first three groups received doses of the extract at (250, 500 and 1000mg/kg) respectively, while the control groups were treated with ibuprofen 20mg/kg and distilled water. All administrations were done through the oral route. Inflammation was induced by right hind limb sub-plantar administration of 0.1ml of 1% w/v carrageenan injection and 0.1 ml of fresh egg albumin in the respective in-vivo models. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, tannins and flavonoids while the LD50 was found to be greater than 5000mg/kg. There was a statistically significant (P<0.05-0.01) inhibition of inflammation in both carrageen an and egg albumin induced inflammation when the extracts at doses of (250, 500 and 1000mg/kg) were compared against the positive control group at 5 hours, and at 300 minutes respectively in both models after induction of inflammation. The plant extract also showed a good inhibition of erythrocyte membrane lysis. The findings showed that ethanol leaf extract of Smilax anceps possesses anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing activities.