Assessment of the effect of Lasianthera africana on Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and other inflammatory markers in inflamed wistar rats.

Persistent excessive production of IL-6 and TNF-α has been associated with several inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. This study explored the anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effect of Lasianthera africana on inflamed Wistar rats. The study consists of six groups namely the normal control, the negative control, the positive control, low dose, medium dose and high dose treatment groups. Analysis of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, MDA, oxidative studies, paw oedema inhibition studies, WBC, protease inhibition studies, and molecular docking were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory properties of the extract. The phytochemical analysis identified the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids. Treatment with the extract led to a significant decrease in paw swelling, pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as well as oxidative stress indicators such as malondialdehyde (MDA). The extract also improved antioxidant enzymes and restored hematological parameters to near-normal levels, suggesting immunomodulatory effects without broad immunosuppression. GC-MS analysis identified 53 bioactive compounds, including limonene, oleic acid, and 1H-Indene, 2-butyl-5-hexyloctahydro. The FTIR showed the presence of functional groups (-OH, =C-H, ≡C-H). Molecular docking showed that key compounds exhibited high binding affinities with inflammatory cytokines, surpassing the standard drug. These findings collectively highlight the extract as a promising multi-target therapeutic candidate for managing inflammatory and immune-related disorders.