Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Aqueous Extracts of Plantain Roots (Musa Species)

The ant-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extracts of plantain (Musa Species) roots was investigated using egg albumin-induced inflammation on the hind-paw in 45 adult Wistar rats. The animals were grouped into nine groups of five rats each. The first group was administered with normal saline while the second group was given a standard anti-inflammatory drug. Piroxicam 20 mins before induction of inflammation. The third, fourth and fifth groups were administered with the different concentrations of the Plantain root extracts 20 min before induction of inflammation while the sixth group was induced with inflammation 20 min before the administration of the standard drug (Piroxicam). The seventh, eighth and ninth groups were administered with different concentrations of the Plantain root extracts 20 min after the egg albumin induced inflammation to investigate the effects of the different concentrations of the Plantain root extracts on the size of the hind-paw induced inflammation on the rats. Measurements of the sizes of the inflammation were done every 20 min for 3 h. The results showed significant reduction in the sizes of the inflammation in both the administration of the extracts before and after the induction of inflammation which was found to be dose and time dependent. These results compared favorably with the conventional antiinflammatory drugs and show that the aqueous extracts of Plantain roots can be effective as a protective and treatment agent against inflammatory conditions and diseases.