Mbola herb demonstrates powerful anti-inflammatory properties – study

In traditional medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa, Mbola (Parinari curatellifolia) is used to treat various diseases, including cancer, pneumonia, fever, microbial infections, and inflammation. A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated the plant’s anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity.

• Methanol, water, acetone, and ethanol extracts were prepared from the young leaves of Mbola.
• The researchers tested the effects of the extracts on xanthine oxidase activity. They determined kinetic constants for all the extracts that showed inhibitory benefits in this stage.
• By analyzing the production of nitrites, the researchers then determined the effects of mbola water extract on LPS, menadione, and hydrogen peroxide-activated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells.
• To test the plant’s antiproliferative effects, the researchers treated Jurkat-T cells with Mbola extracts.
• Both ethanol and methanol extracts showed inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase at 15.6 mcg/ml and 3.9 mcg/ml respectively.
• The water extract inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory NO in RAW cells.
• Mbola was shown to cytotoxic to Jurkat-T cells. Analysis of isolated DNA showed cleaving, indicating that the mechanism for this cytotoxicity was apoptosis or programmed cell death.

The researchers confirmed the traditional medicinal applications of Mbola, especially for the treatment of pain, inflammation, and neoplastic diseases.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Learn how you can treat inflammation naturally by going to Remedies.news.

Journal Reference:

Gororo M, Chimponda T, Chirisa E, Mukanganyama S. MULTIPLE CELLULAR EFFECTS OF LEAF EXTRACTS FROM PARINARI CURATELLIFOLIA. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 22 August 2016;16(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1287-6