ABSTRACT
The medicinal value of plants has assumed a more important dimension in the past few decades owing largely to the discovery that extracts from plants contain not only minerals and primary metabolites but also a diverse array of secondary metabolites with antiinflammatory potential. One of these medicinal plants is Alstonia boonei. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of aqueous extract of the leaf of A. boonei on liver levels of Calcium (Ca), Inorganic Phosphate (P04-P), Magnesium (Mg), and Manganese (Mn) on formalin-induced inflammation in male Wistar rats. For the experimental design, a total of twenty five (25) male rats were used and placed in five groups, namely; group I, II, III, IV, and V representing positive control, 150mg/kg test group, 300mg/kg test group, negative control, and drug control, respectively. Each group consisted of five (5) each, which were weighed and labeled, before experimentation. Inflammation was induced by subaponeurotic injection of 0.1mL of 2% formalin prepared by adding 1mL of distilled water to 4mL of 10% formalin (1:5) in the right hind paw of the rats in groups II, III, and V. The plant extract was administered to groups II, III, and IV daily using an oral gastric tube and a syringe. Group I and V was administered distilled water, and indomethacin, respectively, throughout the duration of the experiment. At the conclusion of the experiment, levels of the metals (ca, p04- p, mn, and mg) were measured from the tissue homogenate obtained. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0 and difference between groups was determined using T-test. The results of this study showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate and manganese concentrations between group I and V. Meanwhile, the concentrations of calcium and magnesium did not show any significant difference between group II (p=0.062) and IV (p=0.254). Conversely, manganese and inorganic phosphate concentrations exhibited a high significance between the group III (p=0.002) and V (p=0.006). In conclusion, it has been demonstrated in this study that the aqueous leaf extract of A. boonei significantly increases calcium and magnesium concentrations in a manner comparable to indomethacin, an approved anti-inflammatory drug, which acts by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, whilst also increasing manganese and inorganic phosphate concentrations at a higher dose of 300mg/kg in a manner greater than the action of the drug.
