Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Zea mays leaves

Zea mays leaf used traditionally in Ibibio ethno medicine in Southern Nigeria to treat malaria and other inflammatory diseases. These anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties were evaluated against experimentally induced inflammation and pains using standard models. The effects of ethanol leaf extract of Zea mays (170 -510 mg/kg) on experimentally induced inflammation and pain were studied in rats using Carrageenin, egg albumin  and xylene-induced inflammation as well as acetic acid-induced writhing and thermal induced pain models. The GCMS analysis of the most active fraction was carried out. The extract (170 -520 mg/kg) inhibited inflammation and pains caused by different phlogistic agents used in a dose dependent fashion. The various degrees of inhibitions were statistically significant (p<0.05, 0.01, 0.001), though incomparable to that of the standard drugs used (ASA and indomethacin). The GC-MS revealed the present of polyunsaturated fatty acids and phenolic compounds which may be responsible for the observed activities of the extract. The present study demonstrates that leaf extract of Zea mays might to be useful for the treatment of inflammation and pains.