Inflammation is a complex biological response of vascular tissue to harmful stimuli such as pathogen, damage cells or irritants (Ryan & Majno, 1983). The urgency generated by increased rate of stroke, atherosclerosis attribute due to prolonged use of cyclooxygenase-1 and Cyclooxygenase- 2 inhibitors have accelerated anti-inflammatory drug research over the last decade while synthetic pharmaceutical agents continued to dominate research (Ryan & Majno, 1983). Attention increasingly has been directed to natural products. These are often more affordable and available and sometimes are perceived as more effective than conventional anti- inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammation was carried out using 12 rats which was divided into three groups of 4 rats each. Group 1 and 2 served as the negative and positive control respectively. Group 3 received 25mg/kg b.w. of the dichloromethane fraction of methanol extract of Crateva adansonii showed significance anti-inflammatory activity when compared with the standard difference used.  

Title page------------------------- i

Certification-----------------ii

Dedication------------------------.iii

Acknowledgement-------------------.iv

Abstract--------------------------v

Table of Content--------------------vi

1.1 Introduction -------------------1

1.2 Crateva adansonii as a plant---------.4

1.3 Research aim and objectives---------.7

2.0 Definition of Inflammation---------8

2.1 Characteristics of Inflammation------.8

2.2 Classes of Inflammation----------9

2.3 Types of Inflammation-----------.10

2.4 Chemical mediators of Inflammation----13

2.4.0 Properties of Mediators----------16

2.4.1 Histamine---------------- 18

2.4.2 Serotonin (5- Hydroxy tryptamine)---- 21

2.4.3 Cytokines-------------------- 24

2.4.4 Arachidonic acid --------------- 30

2.4.5 Platelet Activating Factor (PAF)------ 34

2.4.6 Free Radicals--------------.36

2.4.6.1 Nitric Oxide (NO)------------ 37

2.4.6.2 Oxygen-derived free radicals------. 40

2.4.7.0 Complement system----------. 41

2.4.7.1 The clotting system/Coagulation system. 45

2.4.7.2 The Kinin System-----------. 48

2.4.7.3 The fibrinolytic system--------- 50

2.5.0 Anti-Inflammatory agents--------53

2.5.1 Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) 53

2.5.1.0 Mechanism of Action of NSAIDS----.55

2.5.2 Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs----58

3.1 Materials------------------ 60

3.1.1 Equipment/Apparatus used-------- 60

3.1.2 Chemical, Solvents and Reagents------61

3.1.3 Animals--------------------62

3.2 Methodology------------------.63

3.2.1 Collection and preparation of Plant Materials--63

3.2.2 Extraction-------------------.63

3.3 Fractionation------------------ 64

3.3.1 Gel Column Chromatography---------.64

3.4. Identification of Phytochemical groups in the extract-----------------. 65

3.4.1 Preparation of Reagents for phytochemical analysis--------------------.65

3.4.2 Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the Extract-----------------.66

3.5 Thin Layer Chromatography---------- 71

3.6 Anti-inflammatory activity test. -------- 72

Result-----------------------.75

Discussion--------------------- 79

Conclusion--------------------- 81