Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Stem Bark of Homalium Zeylanicum Benth On Wistar Rats

Abstract

Abstract

Due to the adverse effects of anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic drugs, which are currently in clinical use, a need arises to develop newer anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic agents with less side effects. The investigations of the efficacy of plant-based drugs used in the traditional medicine have evidenced great interest owing to their lesser side effects. In this context the present study was conceptualized to evaluate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Homalium zeylanicum Benth. (HZ) stem bark. HZ belongs to the family Flacourtiaceae, traditionally reported for treatment of rheumatism, but there is no scientific evidence. Powder microscopy of HZ bark powder was performed as part of its standardization. The aqueous (HZAQE), alcoholic (HZALE), petroleum ether (HZPEE) and non-petroleum ether (HZNPE) extracts of stem bark powder were prepared and standardized by preliminary phytochemical tests, total phenolic and flavonoid content. HZALE and HZAQE were evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity by various methods like DPPH, superoxide and hydroxyl free radical scavenging assay. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity for all extract (250, 400 and 500 mg/kg) was performed on Wistar rats by carrageenan induced acute paw oedema method. The extracts have shown good anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging activity. All extracts have shown dose dependent significant decrease in the rat paw volume. HZPEE at 500 mg/kg showed maximum significant activity. The study reveals that, extracts possess potent anti-inflammatory activity attributing to the suppression of the first and second phase of inflammation. Tri-terpenoids, volatile constituents and flavonoids present in the stem bark might be responsible for this suppression. However further studies are required at the molecular level to establish the beneficial role of HZ for inflammatory disorder.

Keywords: anti-inflammatory, Homalium zeylanicum, anti-oxidant, Carrageenan

Cite this Article

Tekuri Manoj Kumar, Sreenivasa Reddy S, Krishna K.L et al. Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Stem Bark of Homalium Zeylanicum Benth On Wistar Rats. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Pharmacognosy. 2017; 4(1): 39–50p.