Preliminary Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Daniellia oliveri Gum Resin in Carrageenan-Induced Rat Paw Oedema

Daniellia oliveri, a large savannah tree abundantly distributed across the Guinea and Sudan savannah zones of North Central and North West Nigeria, exudes an aromatic gum resin that is widely applied topically and orally by local healers for the management of rheumatism, arthritis, and localised inflammatory conditions. This study undertakes a preliminary evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of Daniellia oliveri gum resin extract using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. Gum resin was collected from Kwara State trees, dissolved in ethanol, and partitioned into aqueous and organic fractions. Wistar rats were allocated to groups receiving extract doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, standard drug (indomethacin 10 mg/kg), and a saline negative control. Carrageenan (0.1 mL of 1% solution) was injected into the sub-plantar surface of the right hind paw. Paw volume was measured plethysmographically at one-hourly intervals for five hours. All extract doses produced statistically significant reductions in paw oedema compared to the negative control at the three-hour peak response. The 400 mg/kg dose achieved 68.4% inhibition compared to 75.1% for indomethacin. Phytochemical analysis of the resin identified terpenoids, resins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. These results provide pharmacological validation for the traditional anti-inflammatory use of Daniellia oliveri gum resin. Keywords: Daniellia oliveri, anti-inflammatory, carrageenan, paw oedema, North Central Nigeria