Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ethanol Root Extract of Panicum maximum

Background: Panicum maximum root is used routinely to treat ailments such as malaria, fever, pains and inflammatory diseases by traditional medicine practitioners.

Aim: The study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of P. maximum root so as to validate its uses by practitioners of traditional medicine.

Methodology: The root of P. maximum (dried powdered material) was extracted in ethanol using cold maceration technique. The root crude extract (137 –547 mg/kg) of P. maximum was investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using various experimental models; carrageenan, egg albumin and xylene - induced edema models.

Results: The root extract of P. maximum caused significant (p<0.05 – 0.001) reduction of inflammation induced by the phlogistic agents in a dose-dependent fashion. The recorded anti-inflammatory effects were comparable to those initiated by 100 mg/kg acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, standard drug) used in some of the models here. The anti-inflammatory effect of this plant may be attributed to the phytochemical constituents of the plant.

Conclusion: The findings from this research confirm the ethnomedical use of Panicum maximum root in treating inflammatory conditions.