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8106603 
Journal Article 
Protective role of Kigelia africana fruits against benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach tumourigenesis in mice and against albumen-induced inflammation in rats 
Azuine, MA; Ibrahim, K; Enwerem, NM; Wambebe, C; Kolodziej, H 
1997 
7 
2-3 
67-70 
English 
Ethanolic extract of Kigelia africana (Lam) Benth, (Family: Bignoniaceae) fruits was tested for pharmacological activities in vitro and in vivo. The extract showed moderate cytotoxic activity in the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) nauplii bioassay with an LC50 of 7500 μg/ml. It did not induce any DNA damage in the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA 98 and TA 100 disc spot mutagenicity assay. The acute toxicity test showed an LD50 of 1.3 g/kg i.p. in female Swiss mice. Oral administration of the extract to mice resulted in a significant inhibition in the tumour incidence and burden by 67% and 76%, respectively in the benzo(a)pyrene-induced forestomach tumourigenesis model. The extract evinced marked anti-inflammatory effects in female Wistar rats as reflected by a significant inhibition of the increase in rat paw circumference of 72% (100 mg/kg) and 54% (200 mg/kg) which was caused by subplantar injection of fresh-egg albumen. These results add credence to the folklore use of the fruits of K. africana for the treatment of cancer and oedema in the traditional system of medicine in Nigeria.