ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ICHNOCARPUS FRUTESCENS

Abstract

Summary Leaves and roots of Ichnocarpus frutescens is considered to be an important drug in the indigenous system of medicine, used as a substitute of Indian Sarsaparilla. In the present study the anti-inflammatory activity of total hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of leaves of Ichnocarpus frutescens were investigated in various in vivo (carrageenan, dextran induced paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma assay) and in vitro (inhibition of protein denaturation and protease activity) anti-inflammatory models. The amounts of polyphenolic compounds were also determined. HAE was analyzed and compared with reference antioxidants (-tocopherol and BHT) for its in vitro antioxidative properties such as scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals, as well as inhibition of lipid peroxidation. HAE showed dose dependent antiinflammatory activity with maximum of 33.10 %, 30.13 % and 39.85 % in carrageenan, dextran induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma in rats, at a dose of 300 mg / kg body weight and the effect was comparable to the reference standard drug. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of HAE was examined on the basis of inhibition of albumin denaturation and protease activity. Different concentrations of HAE (50 – 250 µg/ml) also showed ability to inhibit protease activity and denaturation of proteins. Hydroethanolic extract was found to be significantly effective in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl ( IC50 194.06 µg/ml) and hydroxyl radical (163.13 µg/ml). The antioxidant activities of HAE increase with increase amount of extracts (50250µg/ml). HAE showed different levels of inhibitory activities in various in vitro antiinflammatory and antioxidant models, thereby supporting its anti-inflammatory activity. It is concluded that hydroalcoholic extract of Ichnocarpus frutescens may prove to be useful antiinflammatory product in future.