Abstract

Mpumelelo Nkomo, Benedicta N. Nkeh-Chungag*, Learnmore Kambizi, Eugene Jamot Ndebia and Jehu E. Iputo

Gunnera perpensa, which belongs to the Gunneraceae family, is used in folk medicine to relieve rheumatoid pain, facilitate childbirth and for healing wounds. In this study, the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory properties of this plant extracts were evaluated using the abdominal constriction, hotplate, formalin, hyperalgesia and fresh egg albumin-induced inflammation. The extracts were administered orally at the test doses of 150 and 200 mg/kg prior to the above-mentioned assays. Both extracts produced significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) inhibition of thermal nociception induced by hot plate respectively. Chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal and sub plantar injections of acetic acid and formalin respectively, were significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) reduced by the extracts in a dose independent manner. The extracts also showed significant antihyperalgesia and anti inflammatory properties (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) respectively. Our findings suggest that G. perpensa possesses both antinociceptive and anti inflammatory activity supporting its traditional use for pain management.