EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF CHLOROFORM FRACTION OF STEM BARK OF VITELLERIA paradoxa ON SERUM LEVEL OF TNF-α IN COMPLETE FREUND’S ADJUVANT-INDUCED CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Medicinal plants are valuable sources of bioactive compounds for the management of inflammatory diseases characterized by elevated tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This study evaluated the effect of the chloroform fraction of Vitellaria paradoxa stem bark on serum TNF-α levels in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic inflammation in Wistar rats. Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into five groups namely; normal control group received 10ml distilled water, negative control inducted and received distilled water, dexamethasone group inducted and received Dexamethasone treatment groups were inducted and received chloroform fraction at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kgbw, orally for 14 days. Serum TNF-α levels were quantified using ELISA technique. The serum TNF- α determined was normal control (1.31 pg/mL), negative control (20.31 pg/mL), dexamethasone (3.20 pg/mL), T250mg (6.20 pg/mL) and T500mg (1.79 pg/mL). No significant difference between normal control and treatments groups (p<0.05). The chloroform fraction of stem bark of Vitellaria paradoxa was able to contain the serum level of TNF-α in CFA-induced chronic inflammation. This indicates potential anti-inflammatory activity. Further studies are recommended to isolate the active constituents and evaluate long-term safety and clinical relevance.