Anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extracts and an isolated furanoditerpene constituent of Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre (Menispermaceae)

Sphenocentrum jollyanum crude extracts and an isolated constituent were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema of healthy adult albino rats and utilizing the oral route of administration. The fruit methanol extract (79.58% inhibition at 200 mg kg−1) gave a higher anti-inflammatory activity than the root extract (53.75% inhibition at 200 mg ml−1). Further purification of the most active fruit methanol extract (MFE) led to the isolation of three furanoditerpenes identified as columbin, isocolumbin, fibleucin (uv, ir, nmr and ms) as well as a flavonoid-rich fraction (FDE). Both columbin (67.08% inhibition at 20 mg kg −1, p < 0.05) and FDE (76.25% inhibition at 200 mg kg −1; p < 0.05) gave significant anti-inflammatory activities in comparable range with reference acetylsalicylic acid (72.50% inhibition at 100 mg kg−1). The results provide some justification for the folkloric uses of Sphenocentrum jollyanum in the treatment of inflammatory-based diseases across the West African sub-region.