Analgesic anti-inflammatory anti-pyretic activities of Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonol (GB1) from Garcinia kola

This study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-pyretic effects of GB1, a hydroxybiflavanonol of Garcinia kola. The analgesic effect was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail withdrawal tests. Its anti-inflammatory effect was studied using carrageenan-induced paw edema and adjuvant- induced arthritis tests. Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia test was used to evaluate the anti-pyretic effect of GB1. GB1 reduced writhing induced by 0.6 % acetic acid. The number of writhing in 40- and 80-mg/kg GB1-treated groups were significantly lower than writhing in mice treated with distilled water. After 15-min latency period following oral GB1 (40 and 80 mg/kg), there was significant increase in tail withdrawal time compared to control rats. The tail withdrawal time at 30, 45, and 60 min were significantly prolonged in GB1 (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) treated mice. GB1 (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) groups had significantly lower paw volumes at 2 and 3 h post carrageenan injection. Also paw volume were significantly lower in GB1 (40 and 80 mg/kg) groups at 18 h post arthritis induction. By day 30 paw volumes of all GB1 groups were significantly lower than paw volume of control group. Rectal temperatures of GB1 (80 mg/kg)-treated group were significantly lower at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h post brewer's yeast injection compared to rectal temperatures of control and 20-mg/kg GB1 groups. These finding shows that GB1 may serve as an alternative to NSAIDs in clinical practice.