Anti‐Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Terminalia Muelleri Benth. (Combretaceae)

Preclinical Research The anti‐inflammatory and analgesic activities of a polyphenol‐rich fraction (TMEF) obtained from Terminalia muelleri Benth. were measured. The analgesic activity of TMEF was tested using acetic acid‐induced writhing and hot plate models in mice. The anti‐inflammatory activity was assessed using carrageenan‐induced paw edema model by measuring PGE2, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6 plasma levels as well as the paw thickness. TMEF was tested at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg p.o. and diclofenac sodium was used as a standard (100 mg/kg) in all experiments. The group treated with 400 mg/kg of TMEF showed a greater inhibition in the number of writhes (by 63%) than the standard‐treated group (61%). Pretreatment with TMEF increased the analgesic effect in hot plate test in a dose‐dependent manner with a maximum effect after 120 min. TMEF pretreatment alos reduced the edema thickness by 48, 53, and 62% at the tested doses, respectively. TMEF administration inhibited the carrageenan‐induced elevations in PGE2 (by 34, 43, and 47%), TNF‐α (18, 28, and 41%), IL‐1β (14, 22, and 29%), and IL‐6 (26, 31, and 46%). Four phenolic compounds were isolated from Terminalia muelleri for the first time. Drug Dev Res 78 : 146‐154, 2017.