EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF LEAVES OF NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS ON EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Pallavi Bordoloi,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Pharmacology,
Assam Medical College,
Dibrugarh-786002.
E-mail: drpallavi.bordoloi3@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is characterised by pain, redness, swelling and tenderness. Usually, conventional anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat inflammation. But these drugs have side effects like acceleration of damage and erosion of joint spaces and advance osteoporosis. Traditionally, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis has been used to treat various diseases. So, the present study is undertaken to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis.

Aim- The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of the ethanolic extracts of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (EENA). The extract was prepared by percolation method and acute oral toxicity test was performed as per OECD guidelines.

Objectives-

1. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis against acute inflammation by Carrageenan induced rat paw oedema method.
2. To evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis against chronic inflammation by adjuvant arthritis method.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Acute inflammation was studied by Carrageenan induced rat paw oedema method and paw volumes were measured at various intervals. Activity against chronic inflammation was studied by Freud’s complete adjuvant induced arthritis method. Paw volumes were measured on 1^st day, 5^th day (injected paws) and on 21^st day. Aspirin was taken as the standard drug for all the experiments and a control group was maintained in all the models.

RESULTS

EENA showed highly significant (p < 0.05) anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced acute inflammation at the end of 4^th hr. It also showed significant reduction (p < 0.05) of exudates formation in all the doses. In Freud’s complete adjuvant induced arthritis model, EENA significantly reduced primary and secondary lesions when compared to the control. Both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of EENA significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated the index of arthritis and they reduced (p < 0.05) the decrease in weight in the adjuvant arthritis rats as compared to the control group on the 21^st day of adjuvant injection. In chronic inflammation, significant inhibitions of paw oedema and weight reduction were found.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings, we can conclude that the ethanolic extract of leaves of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis contains anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity.

KEYWORDS

Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Arthritic, Nyctanthes Arbor-Tristis, Aspirin, Flavonoids.