Background: Albizia
species including
A. GUMMIFERA
have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of various conditions by many cultural
groups. Apart from its anti-parasitic and antimicrobial activity associated with its use,
Albizia gummifera have not been investigated for either its
anti-inflammatory properties or anti-proliferative effect
in vitro.
Materials and Methods: Extracted acetone crude extract of plant material was tested for the presence of various secondary metabolites using
chemical tests while the anti-proliferative effect against peripheral blood mononuclear were tested using the WST-1 assay. Nitric oxide
production by RAW cell line exposed to extract was also tested using Griess assay as well as the production of interleukin- 2 in medium of
cultured PMBC using an enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.
Results: Phytochemical testing of acetone leaf extracted was shown to be positive for flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The extract was shown to
dose-dependently inhibited proliferation of mononuclear cells while promoting that of RAW cells (p<0.05). The production of IL-2 by
mononuclear cells and nitric oxide release by RAW cells were inhibited and stimulated respectively (p<0.05) in both cell types. The extract was
also shown to elicit significant anti- and pro-inflammatory potential at concentration above 20 and 40 μg/ml, in both cell types respectively.
Conclusion: Further laboratory research is required to elucidate the anti- and pro-inflammatory biochemical pathways as shown by the
in vitro
immune-modulatory modalities of this plant species. It is also important to further identify bioactive entities of
Albizia gummifera responsible for
the observed activities.
