CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Inflammation is a method that results from certain disturbance or disease and it is a process familiar to everyone. It occurs in response to allergen, wounds, infection and auto-immune conditions (Snehal et al, 2015). It is caused by the release of chemical mediators from wounded tissue and migrating cells (Godhandaraman et al, 2016). Inflammation signs are elevated heat, loss of function, redness, swelling, pain (Vashishtha et al, 2014). Inflammation method plays a guilding role in our body and has an adverse impact such as inflammatory disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, retinitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, psoriasis and atherosclerosis. Inflammation may be grouped as either acute or chronic.Increased vascular permeability, capillary infiltration, and emigration of leukocytes is connected with acute inflammation.Infiltration of mononuclear immune cells, macrophages, proliferation (angiogenesis), monocytes, fibrosis, neutrophils, fibroblast activation is connected with chronic inflammation. Inflammation is a common clinical conditions and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a persistent debilitating autoimmune disorder. Medicinal plants are believed to be an important source of new chemical substances with potential therapeutic effects (Godhandaraman et al, 2016). To overcome this problem, searching for new medicines is very essential, and many plants have phytoconstituents that play a very significant role in inflammation therapy. Alafia barteri (Apocynaceae) is a high-climbing small white or rose flower arbust. It is used for the therapy of sickle cell anaemia, febrifuges, eye infections, rheumatism, as chewsticks and
toothache in ethnomedicine. The stem of A.barteri is used for the therapy of inflammation, fever and root binding materials (Johnson et al, 2015).In Nigeria and other African nations, leaf infusion and root deflections are used to treat malaria ( Joseph et al, 2018). The root decoction is used in Nigeria in the therapy of rheumatic pains ( Ishola et al, 2014). The leaf infusion is used for malaria treatment in Coˆte d’Ivoire,
1.3 AIM
To determine the effect of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of Alafia barteri on oxidative stress parameters in formalin induced inflammation in albino rats.
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To determine the phytochemical components of Alafia barteri leaf. 2. To evaluate the effect of oral administration of the extract on body weight and paw diameter in formalin induced wistar rats. 3. To evaluate the effect of oral administration of the extract on oxidative stress parameters in wistar rats.
