Extracts of Ficus exasperata leaf inhibit topical and systemic inflammation in rodents and suppress LPS-induced expression Extracts of Ficus exasperata leaf inhibit topical and systemic infla

The leaves of Ficus exasperata are mashed and prepared as poultices that are placed on swellings, wounds, and arthritic
joints to relieve swelling and pains by the Igede tribal community of Nigeria. The leaf and stalk are also squeezed and
used to mitigate itching or inflammation. These claimed benefits inspired this study in which topical and systemic
(acute, chronic) anti-inflammatory activities of a methanol/methylene chloride leaf extract of F. exasperata (MFE)
were assessed in rodents. Effects of an aqueous leaf extract (AFE) on lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of
interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide (iNO) were also investigated in murine
bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) cultures. Treatment of rats with MFE (200 and 400 mg/kg) led to significant
inhibition of acute and chronic inflammation induced by, respectively, agar and formaldehyde in the paws. Topically,
pre-application of mice with MFE (5 μg/ear) also significantly inhibited (by up to 21%) ear edema induced by xylene.
In vitro, pre-treatment of BMDM with 5–100 μg AFE/ml significantly inhibited IL-1β, TNFα, and iNO production in a
dose-related manner. BMDM viability was not significantly affected AFE at concentrations up to 200 μg/ml. Initial
studies showed that flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids were the predominant phytoconstituents in each extract. In
conclusion, the results of the various investigations indicated that F. exasperata leaf extracts possess anti-inflammatory
properties that could underlie the benefits associated with the folklore use of the plant. The results also show that the
extracts may be acting through a suppression of mediators of inflammation, such as IL-1β, TNFα, and The leaves of Ficus exasperata are mashed and prepared as poultices that are placed on swellings, wounds, and arthritic
joints to relieve swelling and pains by the Igede tribal community of Nigeria. The leaf and stalk are also squeezed and
used to mitigate itching or inflammation. These claimed benefits inspired this study in which topical and systemic
(acute, chronic) anti-inflammatory activities of a methanol/methylene chloride leaf extract of F. exasperata (MFE)
were assessed in rodents. Effects of an aqueous leaf extract (AFE) on lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of
interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and inducible nitric oxide (iNO) were also investigated in murine
bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) cultures. Treatment of rats with MFE (200 and 400 mg/kg) led to significant
inhibition of acute and chronic inflammation induced by, respectively, agar and formaldehyde in the paws. Topically,
pre-application of mice with MFE (5 μg/ear) also significantly inhibited (by up to 21%) ear edema induced by xylene.
In vitro, pre-treatment of BMDM with 5–100 μg AFE/ml significantly inhibited IL-1β, TNFα, and iNO production in a
dose-related manner. BMDM viability was not significantly affected AFE at concentrations up to 200 μg/ml. Initial
studies showed that flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids were the predominant phytoconstituents in each extract. In
conclusion, the results of the various investigations indicated that F. exasperata leaf extracts possess anti-inflammatory
properties that could underlie the benefits associated with the folklore use of the plant. The results also show that the
extracts may be acting through a suppression of mediators of inflammation, such as IL-1β, TNFα, and iNO. iNO.