Anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the bulb extracts of Crinum jagus (J. Thomps.) Dandy (Amaryllidaceae)

The bulbs of Crinum jagus (J. Thomps.) Dandy commonly known as St. Christopher lily or Harmattan lily and locally in Akan as “sukooko” is used in Ghana as a decoction to manage infections, fever, asthma and wounds. The current study seeks to evaluate the anti-infective, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous, methanol, ethanol and hexane extracts of Crinum jagus. The High-throughput spot culture growth inhibition (HT-SPOTi) assay, baker's yeast induced pyrexia in rat model and the carrageenan induced foot edema in rats were used to screen for the anti-infective, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities of the various extracts of Crinum jagus respectively. The extracts were administered at doses of 30, 150 and 300 mg/kg orally to the rats. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity was shown by the methanol extract of Crinum jagus when tested against a panel of microorganisms with MIC values ranging between 1 and 500 mg/L. The activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Salmonella typhi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are difficult to eradicate was remarkable. The aqueous extract of Crinum jagus also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity at the lowest dose of 30 mg/kg used in the experiment (p < 0.0001). The ethanol extract showed significant antipyretic activity at all doses tested with the highest dose of 300 mg/kg showing activity comparable to the 30 mg/kg dose of paracetamol (p < 0.01). The anti-infective, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties of Crinum jagus are very promising as this study affirms its traditional uses. Bio-guided isolation and characterization of compounds from Crinum jagus could help in the identification of bioactive compounds that can serve as potential leads in the discovery and development of drugs to manage inflammation and fever as well as to tackle infections and antimicrobial resistance