Address for correspondence: Abayomi M Ajayi, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology Faculty of Biomedical Sciences Kampala International University - Western Campus Ishaka- Bushenyi, Uganda. Email: yomexj@yahoo.com DOI: **** Pharmacognosy Journal | January 2011 | Vol 2 | Issue 18 43 ORIGINAL ARTICLE PHCOG J. Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of Ethanolic Stem Bark Extract of Ficus trichopoda in Rats. Abayomi M Ajayi a,g* , Julius K Tanayen a,g , Sikiru O Balogun b,g,h , Aminu Ibrahim b,g , Joseph OC Ezeonwumelu d,g , David Kiplagat e,g , Abdulwaheed A Oyewale c,g , Joseph O Oloro a,g , Anthony DT Goji f,g , Bulus Adzu d,g . a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University -Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda. b Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka- Bushenyi, Uganda. c Dept of Anatomy, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda. d School of Pharmacy, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda. e Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Science & Technology. f Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Kampala international University, Western Campus, Ishaka-Bushenyi, Uganda. g Kampala International University Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research (KIUCAMRES) group, Uganda. h Programa de pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde,(Farmacologia), Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso, Cuiaba, Brazil ABSTRACT Introduction: Ficus trichopoda is a icus species growing in wet places – swamp forest, river banks and swamp grassland. It is well used in the management of inlammation - related conditions locally. This present work was undertaken to investigate anti-inlammatory and analgesic properties of aqueous ethanolic extract of Ficus trichopoda bark in rats. Methods: The anti-inlammatory effect was investigated by using the acute inlammatory model of carrageenan - induced paw oedema and its analgesic activity using formalin test and tail lick test in rats. Results: The study for preliminary phytochemical secondary metabolites revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids and free amines/amino acids. Oral administration of the aqueous ethanolic extract of F. trichopoda in doses up to 5000 mg/kg body weight did not produce any mortality and any visible signs of toxicity. Ficus trichopoda extract at the doses (125 - 500 mg/kg) showed signiicant (p < 0.05) dose dependent inhibition of oedema formation in the carregeenan induced model. The extract showed signiicant dose dependent inhibition of the inlammatory (late) phase but not the neurogenic (early) phase of the formalin test in rats. The analgesic activity in tail lick method showed signiicant (p < 0.05) elevation in pain latency threshold from 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after pretreatment. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest marked analgesic and anti-inlammatory activity of ethanolic extract (125- 500 mg/kg). This inding supports that the stem bark is useful in inlammatory and painful conditions. Key words: Bark, Ficus trichopoda, Inlammation, Pain, Phytochemicals INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants have long been used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes and their healing effects have well been recognized since ancient times. Ficus trichopoda Baker is a medicinal plant belonging to the Moraceae family (commonly called ig trees) used popularly as a ‘multi- purpose’ medicinal plant in Uganda. Forty-four species are known from Uganda. [1-2] Ficus trichopoda is a icus species growing in wet places – swamp forest, river banks and swamp grassland. The vernacular name is ‘kaboga’ in Luganda language of Uganda. It is widely used for live fence, building poles, ibre, irewood and ground water. [3] The majority of the medicinal uses of igs in humans are based on historical reports or anecdotal evidence with only a few reports coming from modern clinical trials. The reported medicinal properties of different Ficus species includes: anti-inlammatory, antineoplastic, antioxidant, antiulcer and antidiarrheal. [4] Species of the genus Ficus (Moraceae) are used in many parts of East Africa for the treatment and management of many clinical and gynaecological problems. [5-6]