STUDY OF THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTY OF AQUEOUS EXTRACTS FROM LEAVES OF NYMPHAEA LOTUS L. (NYMPHAEACEA)

Dr. TA Bi Irié Honoré* and Prof. N'GUESSAN Koffi

In Côte d'Ivoire, the decoction of Nymphaea lotus leaves is traditionally used to treat inflammation. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts from these plant leaves in laboratory on rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan. The doses of phytomedecines administered orally to the rats were: 840, 1400, 4200 mg/kg. The results obtained with aqueous extracts of Nymphaea lotus were compared, on the one hand with those of the physiological control (NaCl 0.9%) and on the other hand with those of diclofenac 25 mg/kg, reference anti-inflammatory in this study. The different comparisons were made at 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 12h and 24h after injection of carrageenan. The parameters considered were: percentage increase in paw circumference (%AUG) and percentage of treatment inhibition (%INH). The results showed a significant difference at p<0.001 between %AUG of phytomedicine treatments at different doses and those of NaCl. However, at the dose of 4200 mg/kg, the %AUG of the phytomedicine were statically similar to those of diclofenac 25 mg/kg. Comparisons of %INH showed the same results with %AUG. This study therefore reveals that Nymphaea lotus leaves have anti-inflammatory properties. This study therefore provides good evidence for the use of Nymphaea lotus leaves decoction in traditional medicine to combat inflammation.