The effects of the methanol extract (LHE), hexane (LHHF), ethylacetate (LHEF) and methanol (LHMF) fractions of leaf of Leptadenia hastata on acute and chronic inflammation were studied. Furthermore, the effects of LHE on acetic acid induced increase in vascular permeability, carrageenan induced leucocyte migration and membrane stability were evaluated. The LHE and fractions were also subjected to phytochemical analysis. The LHE, LHEF and LHMF significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed topical ear edema, systemic paw edema, global edematous response to formaldehyde arthritis and granuloma tissue growth. The LHE suppressed acetic acid induced vascular permeability and carrageenan-induced leucocyte migration, and also stabilized the erythrocyte membrane. An acute toxicity test in mice established an oral LD50 > 5 g/kg for LHE. The LHEF elicited the greatest inhibition, suggesting that the observed anti-inflammatory effects may be attributable to the flavonoids abundant in the fraction. These findings demonstrate that the effectiveness of L. hastata leaf in the treatment of furuncles may largely derive from anti-inflammatory activities mediated through inhibition of both increase in vascular permeability and leucocyte migration, and stabilization of cell membranes.
Keywords: Leptadenia hastata; abscess; anti-inflammatory; furuncles; leucocyte migration; membrane stabilization; vascular permeability.