Evaluation of the Anti-diarrhoeal, Anti-inflammatory, and Analgesic Effects of the Polyherbal Formulation, Aju Mbaise in Experimental Rats.

Abstract Background: Aju Mbaise is a combination of herbs that is widely used in the southeast part of Nigeria for the purpose of managing postpartum complications and alleviating menstrual pain. The study aimed at assessing the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diarrheal properties of Aju mbaise extract in rats. Methods: The extract was subjected to phytochemical analysis and acute toxicity testing. Subsequently, the anti-diarrheal effects of the extract were evaluated by administering charcoal as a meal and then using the castor oil-induced models. The evaluation of its anti-inflammatory effects was conducted through the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, while its analgesic properties were assessed using the acetic acid-induced pain model. Results: Alkaloids, tannins, phenols, steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and saponins were among the components that the phytochemical study revealed to be present. The acute toxicity value was also greater than 5000 mg/kg body weight. In animal studies, the extract displayed significant inhibitory effects on intestinal motility, while also reducing the wet stool frequency. The castor oil-induced model exhibited a decrease in the weight of intestinal contents and an elevation in serum electrolyte levels. Additionally, in the anti-inflammatory study, the extract was observed to suppress paw oedema, and in the analgesic study, it demonstrated a reduction in acetic acid-induced pain in rats. Conclusions: The Aju mbaise polyherbal extract possesses anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties, making it a potentially safe option for managing diarrhoea, inflammation, and pain. These therapeutic effects may be attributed to the extract's composition of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, steroids, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and saponins. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to establish the extract's ideal dosages and potential adverse effects.