ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITIES OF ALOE PUBESCENS (ASPHODELACEAE) LEAF GEL IN MICE MODELS

Abstract

Pain and inflammation are associated with number of diseases or conditions as symptoms, and considered as a major clinical, social, and economic problem around the world. In Ethiopia, Aloe pubescens has been traditionally used to alleviate wounds, pain, and inflammation, but its medicinal benefits have not been scientifically validated. The present study aimed at the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Aloe pubescens leaf gel in mice models. Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Aloe pubescens leaf gel in mice. Methods: Experimental study design was conducted. The study was conducted in Haramaya University, College of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. The leaf gel powder of the Aloe pubescens was prepared, by using vacuum oven at 40 ˚c. The mice randomly divided into five groups (negative control, positive control and three test groups). Anti inflammatory effect of Aloe pubescens leaf gel was evaluated using carrageenan-induced acute paw edema and formalin-induced sub-acute paw edema models. While, analgesic activity of Aloe pubescens leaf gel was tested via the acetic acid-induced writhing test for peripheral pain and the hot plate test for central pain. Additionally, phytochemical screening was conducted to identify the active compounds. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. A one-way ANOVA test was used to determine significance and results were expressed as mean ± SEM, with significance determined at p < 0.05. Results: The leaf gel of Aloe pubescens produced significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental mice models. In the acetic acid–induced writhing test, the gel significantly reduced the number of writhes in a dose-dependent manner, indicating peripheral analgesic activity. In the hot plate test, the extract significantly prolonged reaction latency, demonstrating centrally mediated analgesic effects. Furthermore, the gel markedly suppressed carrageenan induced acute paw edema and formalin-induced sub-acute paw edema across all tested doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg), with maximal inhibition observed at higher doses and later time points. Overall, the extract exhibited significant and dose-dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities compared with the negative control. x Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that Aloe pubescens leaf gel possesses significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in experimental mouse models. The observed effects were dose-dependent and evident in both peripheral and central pain models, as well as in acute and sub-acute inflammation models. These results scientifically support the traditional use of the plant for the management of pain and inflammatory conditions and suggest that Aloe pubescens may serve as a potential source of bioactive compounds for the development of novel analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents.