MacDonald Idu, Chike U Onuigbo and Benjamin O Gabriel

ELNA (Moringa oleifera, Crateva religiosa and Curcuma longa) is a polyherbal formulation comprising of Moringa oleifera, Crateva religiosa and Curcuma longa. It is used traditionally in the treatment of inflammation, gastro-intestinal infections, hypertension and immune compromised diseases. This study investigate the in-vitro anti-oxidant capacity, biosafety, nociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of polyherbal ELNA acetone extract. In-vitro anti-oxidant study was done on the extract using a standard protocol of 1, 1, Diphenyl 2, picrylhydraxyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Toxicological profiling was done using standard methods. Acetic acid, hot plate and egg albumin models were designed for the nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the extract. DPPH scavenging property of the extract showed significant increase at graded concentration. Acute toxicity study of ELNA acetone extract revealed no toxic effect, with absent mortality and less adverse effect (LD₅₀>5000 mg/kg). Subchronic toxicity study of acetone extract administered for 28 days, showed no significant difference (p= 0.05) in organ to body weight values. Haematological indexes indicated no significant different excluding 400 mg/kg that elicited slight significant (p<0.05) increase in the platelet. The results showed that graded doses of acetone extract at (400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg body weight) exhibited significant (p<0.05) decrease in peripheral and central pain also a decrease in the paw edema volume of inflammation. This was achieved in dose dependent manner. The result of this study established a pharmacological evidence for the traditional use of ELNA as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, it also present information on the anti-oxidant properties and toxicity profile of the formulation.

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