British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 3(2): 70-75, 2012
ISSN: 2044-2467
© Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2012
Submitted: February 21, 2012
Accepted: March 16, 2012
Published: April 15, 2012
Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Aqueous Extracts of Plantain Roots
(Musa Species)
A.O. Ibegbu, U.J. Okonji, W.O. Hamman, U.E. Umana, D.T. Ikyembe and S.A. Musa
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,
Kaduna State, Nigeria
Abstract: The ant-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extracts of plantain (Musa Species) roots was
investigated using egg albumin-induced inflammation on the hind-paw in 45 adult Wistar rats. The animals
were grouped into nine groups of five rats each. The first group was administered with normal saline while the
second group was given a standard anti-inflammatory drug. Piroxicam 20 mins before induction of
inflammation. The third, fourth and fifth groups were administered with the different concentrations of the
Plantain root extracts 20 min before induction of inflammation while the sixth group was induced with
inflammation 20 min before the administration of the standard drug (Piroxicam). The seventh, eighth and ninth
groups were administered with different concentrations of the Plantain root extracts 20 min after the egg
albumin induced inflammation to investigate the effects of the different concentrations of the Plantain root
extracts on the size of the hind-paw induced inflammation on the rats. Measurements of the sizes of the
inflammation were done every 20 min for 3 h. The results showed significant reduction in the sizes of the
inflammation in both the administration of the extracts before and after the induction of inflammation which
was found to be dose and time dependent. These results compared favorably with the conventional antiinflammatory drugs and show that the aqueous extracts of Plantain roots can be effective as a protective and
treatment agent against inflammatory conditions and diseases.
Key words: Egg albumin, hind paw, inflammation, piroxicam, plantain root, wistar rats
have used healing properties from herbs to produce drugs.
Approximately 25% of prescription drugs come from
plants and are similar in purpose and use to that of ancient
times (Samuelson, 1980; Tapsell et al., 2006). Of the
approximate 500,000 plants, including subspecies in the
world today, a mere 5,000 have been studied for their
medicinal benefits (Samuelson, 1980; Tapsell et al., 2006;
Elvin-Lewis, 2001).
As traditional medicinal practices are adopted by new
populations there are a lot of challenges some of which
are its adoption in different cultures and regions without
the parallel advance of international standards and
methods for evaluation (Talalay and Talalay, 2001; ElvinLewis, 2001). The lack of national policies for traditional
medicine which regulates traditional medicinal products,
practices and practitioners making it difficult, due to
variations in definitions and categorizations of traditional
medicine therapies (Talalay and Talalay, 2001). A single
herbal product could be defined either as a food, a dietary
supplement or herbal medicine, depending on the country.
Requirements and methods for research and evaluation
are difficult (Elvin-Lewis, 2001). It can be difficult to
assess the quality of finished herbal products and as
such, the safety, effectiveness and quality of finished
INTRODUCTION
Herbal medicine is the use of plants in a wide variety
of forms for their therapeutic value. Herbal plants produce
and contain a variety of chemical compounds that are
used to prevent and treat diseases or promote health and
well-being (Fabricant and Farnsworth, 2001; Lai and Roy,
2004). Traditional medicine is the sum total of
knowledge, skill and practices based on theories, beliefs
and experiences indigenous to different cultures that are
used to maintain health as well as prevent, diagnose,
improve and treat physical and mental illnesses and often
termed alternative or complementary medicine (Acharya
and Shrivastava, 2008). Herbal medicines include herbs,
herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal
products that contain parts of plants as active ingredients
(Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008; Lai and Roy, 2004). The
most ancient form of health care known to man is herbal
medicine. For generations, herbs have been used to
provide medicinal benefits. (Sa’ad and Small, 2005; Lai
and Roy, 2004).
Herbal remedies are still relatively popular today,
mainly due to that they are regarded as harmless because
they are natural. For years, pharmaceutical companies
Corresponding Author: A.O. Ibegbu, Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria,
Kaduna State Nigeria, Tel.: +2348032188042
70
Br. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(2): 70-75, 2012
herbal medicine products depend on the quality of their
source materials which can include hundreds of natural
constituents and how elements are handled through the
production processes (Howland and Mycek, 2006; ElvinLewis, 2001). Efforts to preserve both plant populations
and knowledge on how to use them for medicinal
purposes is needed to sustain traditional medicine
(Chevallier, 2001). The last and most threatening
challenge is safety in the usage of herbal medicinal
products. Many people believe that because medicines are
herbal, natural or traditional, they are safe or carry no risk
of harm. However, traditional medicines and practices can
cause harmful, adverse reactions, if the product or therapy
is of poor quality, or it is taken inappropriately or in
conjunction with other medicines (Attah, 2000; Talalay
and Talalay, 2001; Lichterman, 2004). Due to growing
interest in natural healing, increased availability, few side
effects, along with being one of the least expensive ways
to improve our health, the popularity of herbal medicine
will continue to grow in the 21st century (Benjamin and
Sarah, 1985; Barnes and Ernst, 1998).
Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants
of the genus Musa and the fruits they produce are
generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet
banana. There is no formal botanical distinction between
bananas and plantains and the use of either term is based
purely on how the fruits are consumed. All members of
the genus Musa are indigenous to the tropical regions of
Southeast Asia and Oceania (Nelson et al., 2006; Oke
et al., 1998). Plantains are now known to belong to the
same species as bananas (Nelson et al., 2006; UNCST,
2007) and are mostly hybrids between the species Musa
acuminata (A genome) and Musa balbisiana (B genome).
Most modern plantains belong to the AAB Group, the
Plantain Group and the ABB Group, the banana cultivar
group. Other economically important plantain groups
include the East African Highland bananas of the AAA
Group and the Pacific plantains of the AAB Group (Ploetz
et al., 2007).
Plantain contains little beta-carotene and the vitamin
C content of plantain is very similar to those of sweet
potato, cassava and potato, but the concentration may
vary with the crop, maturity at harvest, soil and farming
conditions (Oke et al., 1998). The rootstock is full of fiber
and starch. It is used for food in many parts of the world.
The rootstock which bears the leaves is soft and full of
starch just before the flowering period and it is used as
food in Ethiopia; the young shoots of several species are
cooked and eaten. Different parts of Plantain are used as
herbs for different purposes in different parts of the world
(Lichterman, 2004). The aim of the present study is to
investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous
extract of plantain roots using egg albumen induced
inflammation on the hind-paw of adult Wistar rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The root of the Plantain plant was collected from a
plantain plantation in Olorunda Local Government Area
of Badagry, Lagos State Nigeria. It was characterized and
identified at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
Herbarium as the AAB group hybrid of the Musa Species
of Plantain. The roots were then dried under shade,
grounded and were extracted in boiling water. The extract
was concentrated and evaporated to dryness to obtain a
dark brown mass weighing 14.02 g. Preliminary study
was conducted to determine the LD50 for the Plantain root
extract with a limit dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight, of
which no deaths were observed. Thus the preliminary
study shows that the extracts of the roots of Plantain of
the Musa Species are not toxic.
Experimental design: A total of 45 adult Wistar rats of
both sexes were used and were grouped into 9 groups
with 5 rats in each group. They were kept in well
ventilated conditions in standard cages where they had
access to food and water Ad libitum. Group 1 received
normal saline, Group 2 received 0.5 mg/kg body weight
of standard drug Piroxicam before induction of
inflammation, Group 3 received 250 mg/kg body weight
of the extract 20 min before inflammation induction,
Group 4 received 500 mg/kg body weight of the extract
20 min before inflammation induction, Group 5 received
1000 mg/kg body weight of extract before inflammation
induction, Group 6 received 0.5 mg/kg body weight of
standard drug Piroxicam 20 min after inflammation
induction. Group 7 received 250 mg/kg body weight of
extract 20 min after inflammation induction, Group 8
received 500 mg/kg body weight of extract after
inflammation induction and Group 9 received 1000 mg/kg
body weight of extract 20 min after inflammation
induction.
Egg-albumin induced inflammation: Egg albumin
induced inflammation was done by sub-planter injection
of fresh egg albumin for each of the treated groups. Acute
inflammation was measured with digital venire caliper to
determine the sizes of the inflammation every 20 min
consecutively for 3 h. The rats were deprived of water
during the experiment (Winter et al., 1963). The dose of
extracts and the standard anti-inflammatory drug was
calculated per body weight of each rat and was
administered intra-peritoneally in all the groups.
This research study was carried out between August
and November 2011 in the Ahmadu Bello University
Departments of Human Anatomy and Pharmacology
under the supervision of the first Author.
Statistical analysis: All data was expressed as the
mean±standard Error of Mean (SEM). Data was subjected
to Students’ T-test and one way Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA). Differences in mean were considered to be
significant when p is less than 0.05 (p<0.05).
71
Br. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(2): 70-75, 2012
Table 1: The weight of the rats before administration of the extract and standard drug in different groups
Injected before induced inflammation
Induced inflammation before treatment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group 1 Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
No of
normal
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
rat group saline
0.5
250
500
1000
0.5
250
500
1000
1
237
237
145
163
165
190
110
180
145
2
250
223
150
185
170
207
100
198
226
3
155
175
197
210
145
153
145
152
150
4
160
198
202
190
210
106
210
110
260
5
172
185
223
197
202
170
220
115
180
Each value represents the weight in grams of rats in each group; All values are statistically non significant when compared to control group
Table 2: Weight of the rats after administration of the extract and standard drug in different groups
Injected before induced inflammation
Induced inflammation before treatment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group 1 Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
No of
normal
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
rat group saline
0.5
250
500
1000
0.5
250
500
1000
1
239
237.05
146
163.5
165.25
190.05
111
180.5
145.25
2
252
223.05
151
185.5
170.25
207.05
101
198.5
226.25
3
155
175.05
198
210.5
145.25
153.05
146
152.5
150.25
4
162
198.05
203
190.5
210.25
106.05
211
110.5
260.25
5
171
185.05
224
197.5
202.25
170.05
221
115.5
180.25
Each value represents the weight in grams of rats in each group; All values are statistically non significant when compared to control group
Table 3: Showing correlation between dose, time and weight
Injected before induced inflammation
Induced inflammation before treatment
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Group 1 Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
Groups
normal
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
piroxicam
extract
extract
extract
parameters saline
0.5
250
500
1000
0.5
250
500
1000
Dose
0.251
1.956
1.472
1.719
0.990
2.272
2.702
2.262
2.248
Weight
0.018
0.021
0.026
0.057
0.068
0.083
0.051
0.074
0.031
Time
---------- 2.792*
1.604*
2.230*
2.274*
3.722*
3.776*
4.006*
4.430*
Each value represents the Differences in the mean paw diameter of 5 rats in each group; *: Statistical significance
Anti-inflammatory studies: The results of the antiinflammatory effects of the aqueous extracts of the
Plantain roots of the Musa Species, show significant
reduction on egg albumin induced inflammation. The
prevention of inflammatory activity was observed to be
time and dose dependent in that the extracts of Plantain
roots of the Musa Species at doses of 250, 500 and 1000
mg/kg were able to significantly prevent inflammation
(p<0.001) in rats administered with the extract of Plantain
roots of the Musa Species before inflammation induction
as compared to the control group. High anti-inflammatory
activity was observed at 20 to 80 min while a nonstatistically significant change in the prevention of
inflammatory activities was observed from 80 to 120 min
as shown in Fig. 1 and Table 4. While Piroxicam, a
known conventional anti-inflammatory drug on the other
hand shows a resultant decreases in inflammation but at
a much lower rate when compared to the Plantain root
extract.
The results from Fig. 2 and Table 5, show significant
anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous root extract of
Plantain when administered after the induction of
inflammation in rats. The results show that the treatment
of the egg albumin induced inflammation by the extract
and Piroxicam was observed to be lower throughout
RESULTS
Physical observations on the animals: The animals
looked normal and no physical changes were observed
during the course of the experiment. Table 1 and 2, show
the weight changes of the animals before and after the
procedure. The result shows that there was no significant
change in the weight of the rats as the extract has no
significant effect on the weight of the rats.
Table 3 shows the correlation matrix of the
experiment. The results show the effect of the
administration of the extract on different parameters
compared on the factors of time, dose and weight.
Correlation between the doses of the extract for the
prevention of inflammation and the time of inflammation
shows that there was a positive correlation between the
time of the inflammation and dose of the extract
administered. The correlation between the doses of the
extract for the treatment of inflammation and the time of
the inflammation, shows that there was a positive
correlation between the doses of the extract used in the
treatment of inflammation and the time of the
inflammation, while the correlation between the 20-180th
minutes are statistically significant for both procedures
and for all the groups (p#0.05).
72
Br. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(2): 70-75, 2012
Table 4: Show the preventive effect of the aqueous extract of the plantain root of Musa species on egg albumin induced inflammation egg albumin
induced hind paw inflammation
Egg albumin induced hind paw inflammation in centimeter (cm)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Time/Min.
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
CONTROL
3.49±0.15
3.53 ±0.12 3.50±0.14
3.57±0.09
3.47 ±0.13 3.54±0.07
3.53±0.10
3.53±0.10
3.08±0.18
(10 mL/kg)
PIROXICAM 5.75*±0.26 5.69*±0.41 4.46*±0.10 4.32*±0.18 3.83 ±0.14 3.18 ±0.13 2.45 ±0.1
7 3.20 ±0.1
7 2.96 ±0.14
(0.5 mL/kg)
250 mL/kg
5.12*±0.24 4.98*±0.19 3.62*±0.18 4.30*±0.32 3.69 ±0.25 3.05 ±0.28 2.98 ±0.19 2.95 ±0.21
2.84 ±0.08
(extract)
500 mL/kg
5.38*±0.18 4.70*±0.29 3.25*±0.03 3.56*±0.16 2.79 ±0.24 2.49 ±0.22 2.33 ±0.18 2.74 ±0.21
3.15 ±0.13
(extract)
1000 mL/kg
4.31*±0.05 3.81*±0.27 3.58*±0.56 3.32*±0.19 2.86 ±0.12 2.66 ±0.12 2.71 ±0.06 2.78 ±0.12
2.71 ± 0.12
(extract)
Each value represents the mean±S.E.M of the paw diameter of 5 rats in each group; All values are significant at p<0.05 compare to control group;
*: Statistical significance
Table 5: Show the curative effect of the aqueous extract of the root of plantain of the Musa species on egg albumin induced hind paw inflammation
Egg albumin induced hind paw inflammation in centimeter (cm)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Time/Min
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Control
3.49±0.15
3.53±0.12
3.50±0.14
3.57±0.09
3.47±0.13
3.54±0.07
3.53±0.10
3.36±0.31
3.08±0.18
(10 mL/kg)
Piroxicam
6.52±*0.16 4.92±*0.13 3.61±*0.19 3.25 ±0.28
2.45±0.15
2.09±0.16
3.14±0.18
3.32±0.11
2.79±0.11
(0.5 mL/kg)
250 mL/kg 7.26±*0.40 5.35±*0.19 3.55±*0.02 2.83 ±0.08
2.00±0.08
3.26±0.13
3.09±0.19
2.82±0.23
2.82±0.05
(extract)
500 mL/kg 6.92±*0.19 4.99±*0.16 3.77±*0.04 3.19±0.19
2.92±0.10
3.31±0.18
3.12±0.21
2.83±0.16
2.92±0.20
(extract)
1000 mL/kg 6.72±*0.18 4.62±*0.21 3.66±*0.09 3.21±0.24
3.13±0.15
2.61±0.08
2.44±0.15
2.80±0.16
2.94±0.17
(extract)
Each value represents the mean±S.E.M of the paw diameter of 5 rats in each group; All values are significant at p<0.05 compare to control group;
*: Statistical significance
7
M ean paw diameter
6
5
4
3
5
4
3
2
180 min
160 min
140 min
120 min
100 min
80 min
180 min
160 min
140 min
120 min
100 min
80 min
60 min
40 min
20 min
1
60 min
0
40 min
1
2
0
6
20 min
Mean paw diameter
7
Control (10 mL/kg)
PIROXICCAM (0.5 mL/kg)
250 1/kg (extract)
500 1/kg (extract)
1000 1/kg (extract)
8
Control (10 mL/kg)
PIROXICCAM (0.5 mL/kg)
250 1/kg (extract)
500 1/kg (extract)
1000 1/kg (extract)
Fig. 2 : Sow he curative effect of aqueous extract of the root of
lantain of the usa species
Fig. 1: Showing the preventive effect of the aqueos extract of
the root of lantain on inflammation
The Fig. 2 shows a significant decrease in
inflammation at all doses when compared to the control at
60th min.
the experiment in that at 20th min, the signs of
inflammation were still very high. Significant decrease in
the inflammatory processes began from the 60th min
when compared to the control group.
The result in Fig. 1 shows a significant decrease in
inflammation at all doses in comparison to the control.
Major decrease in the inflammation in all the doses was
observed from 20-80th min. No significant decrease was
observed from 80-120th min.
DISCUSSION
The results from the present study indicate that the
intraperitoneal administration of the aqueous extract of
the root of Plantain of the Musa Species significantly
reduced fresh egg-albumin induced inflammation in rats.
73
Br. J. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 3(2): 70-75, 2012
Egg albumin, a potent edematous agent produced
inflammation through the release of several inflammatory
mediators (Tjolsen et al., 1992; Vickers and Zollman,
1999). These chemical mediators of inflammation produce
increase in vascular permeability thus prompting fluid
accumulation in tissues which results in edema (Williams
and Morley, 1973; White, 1999). Aqueous extract of the
root of Plantain at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000
mg/kg body weight reduced egg albumin induced
inflammation significantly at the beginning of the 20 and
80th min when compared to the control group.
The plantain root components that play a role in the
reduction or controlling of inflammation include aucubin
which is a glycoside in plantain, acts as a sedative,
anesthetic, antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-toxic, anti-histamine,
anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, anti-tumor, anticancer, anti-carcinogenic, a diuretic and expectorant, a
hypotensive and an organoleptic agent (Ahlborn et al.,
2005). This glycoside has been studied for its numerous
effects in inflammation. Also plantain roots contain
apigenin which is one of the anti-inflammatory
flavonoids. The anti-inflammatory changes observed from
the egg albumin induced inflammation could be due to the
presence of these substances in plantain. Also antioxidant
vitamins A, C, E, the B-complex vitamins and trace
minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc and selenium
have been shown to reduce inflammatory changes
according to Christopher (2003).
The results of the present study can be compared with
the work of Davis et al. (1994), which showed that the
anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of cloves
(Syzygium aromaticum) was statistically significant in the
reduction of formalin induced inflammation in rats but at
a slower rate when compared to plantain roots.
Plantain contains high levels of beta carotene
(vitamin A), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and vitamin K.
Other components of plantain roots that are antiinflammatory are baicalein, citric, fumaric, salicylic and
benzoic acids which could be responsible in reducing
inflammatory changes in egg albumin induced
inflammation in rats.
In conclusion, the results from the present study show
that the aqueous extract of the root of Plantain of the
Musa Species significantly reduced inflammation in rats
that was induced with inflammation using egg albumin.
This reduction in inflammation has been shown to be dose
and time dependent. The result of this study has shown
that plantain root extract can be effective both as a
protective and treatment agent against inflammatory
changes and disorders. While the result shows that the
extract was more effective as a protective measure against
inflammation rather than treatment and also at a faster
rate.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors gratefully acknowledged the assistance
from the technical staffs of both Departments of Human
Anatomy and Pharmacology Ahmadu Bello University
who see to the up keep of the animals in the animal house.
Also the Laboratory staffs of the Department of
Pharmacology who assisted tirelessly to see that this work
was completed and on time and other academic staffs of
the Departments of Human Anatomy and Pharmacology
of Ahmadu Bello University for their valuable advice on
the research.
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