Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Zea mays leaves

Abstract

<strong>Background & Aim:</strong><em>Zea mays </em>leaf used traditionally in Ibibio ethno medicine in Southern Nigeria to treat malaria and other inflammatory diseases. These anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties were evaluated against experimentally induced inflammation and pains using standard models. <strong>Experimental: </strong>The effects of ethanol leaf extract of <em>Zea mays </em>(170 -510 mg/kg) on experimentally induced inflammation and pain were studied in rats using Carrageenin, egg albumin and xylene-induced inflammation as well as acetic acid-induced writhing and thermal induced pain models. The GCMS analysis of the most active fraction was carried out. <br/><strong>Results:</strong> The extract (170 -520 mg/kg) inhibited inflammation and pains caused by different phlogistic agents used in a dose dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.05, 0.01, 0.001), though incomparable to that of the standard drugs used (ASA and indomethacin). The GC-MS revealed the present of polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds which may be responsible for the observed activities of the extract. <strong>Recommended applications/industries:</strong> The present study demonstrates that leaf extract of <em>Zea mays</em> might to be useful for the treatment of inflammation and pains.