Pharmacological evaluation of the aqueous stem bark extract of Bombax buonopozense in the relief of pain and fever

Bombax buonopozense is used in traditional medicine in Nigeria for the treatment of pains and feverish conditions. This study was orally carried out to establish the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of an aqueous stem bark extract of Bombax buonopozense in experimental animals. The analgesic activity was measured using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and water tail imgmersion tests. The anti-inflammatory activity was assayed using the xylene and carrageenan-induced oedema tests, while the antipyretic activity was measured using the brewer’s yeast and 2, 4 dinitrophenol-induced pyrexia. The stem bark extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) at all doses used, was found to have significant (P<0.05) analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic activities. Data shows that aqueous stem bark extract of B. buonopozense possesses constituents with therapeutic potential against pains and feverish conditions, thus supporting the use of the stem bark of this plant for similar ailments in traditional medicine. Key words: Bombax buonopozense, stem bark, aqueous extract, pain, inflammation, fever.