Abstract

Ximenia americana L. (Olacaceae) is a folk medicinal plant used in Burkina Faso to treat inflammatory, noxious and infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous ethanol extract of root bark of the plant and evaluate its acute toxicity. Carrageenan was used to induce oedema and leukocyte migration; acetic acid was used to induce vascular permeability in order to evaluate anti-inflammatory properties of the plant extract. The acute toxicity was evaluated using mice. The aqueous ethanol extract of X. americana administered intraperitoneally is fairly toxic in mice with a LD₅₀ of 345 mg/kg of body weight. The extract inhibited paw swelling, polymorphonuclear neutrophil and leukocyte migration induced by carrageenan. Moreover, the extract (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg) reduced vascular permeability induced by acetic acid. Aqueous ethanol extract of root bark of X. americana (Olacaceae) possesses anti- inflammatory properties by inhibiting oedema, pain, cell migration and increased vascular permeability.

Key words: Ximenia americana, anti-inflammatory activity, acute toxicity, root bark.