Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Membrane-Stabilizing Property of Methanol Extract of Rothmannia longiflora Fruit

This study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing property of methanol extract of Rothmannia longiflora fruits. The egg albumin-induced rat paw oedema was utilized as the model for inflammation. The probable mode by which R. longiflora mediates its effects on inflammatory conditions was studied on human blood cells (RBC) exposed to hypotonic solution. The results of the study revealed that the extract possesses anti-inflammatory property. Rothmannia longiflora was found to significantly (p<0.05) reduce the oedema induced by the phlogistic agent in rats in a dose-related manner; the reduction was during the later phase of the inflammation. Also, the extract was shown to exhibit membrane-stabilizing property, as it significantly (p<0.05) reduced the levels of haemolysis of RBC exposed to hypotonic solution. The acute toxicity studies of methanol extract of Rothmannia longiflora fruit in mice revealed that it has high safety profile, as there was no death recorded in two stages of the test using intraperitoneal (ip) route.