Anti-inflammatory activity of Methanolic Extract of Aerial parts of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F

Anti-inflammatory activity of Methanolic Extract of Aerial parts of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F

1. Jeevanantham*, S. Vincent, A. Balasubramaniam, B. Jayalakshmi and N. Senthil Kumar

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JKKMMRF College of Pharmacy, Komarapalayam, Namakkal Dist.,- 638 183, Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of methanol extract of aerial part of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F on acute inflammation and it justifies the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of various types of pains and inflammation was evaluated in Albino rat. The aerial part of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F extracted with methanol at an oral dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity when compared with control. The anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F. was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema method in Albino rats. In carrageenan-induced paw edema model, Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg caused significant inhibition of paw edema by 53.11%( p<0.001) and 55.43 (p<0.001) respectively, 4 hours after carrageenan administration It is clearly evident from the study that an methanol extract of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F  exhibit significant anti-inflammatory effect in albino rats. Results of two doses are also comparable with standard drug (Indomethacin). All the above results support the traditional uses of aerial part.

Indomethacin

INTRODUCTION: Inflammation and pain are local response of living mammalian tissue to injury. It is a body defense reaction in order to eliminate or limit the spread of injurious agent. There are various components to an inflammatory reaction that can contribute to the associate symptoms and tissue injury. Edema formation, leukocyte infiltration and granuloma formation represents such components of inflammation ¹.

Edema formation in the paw is the result of a synergism between various inflammatory mediators that increase vascular permeability/or the mediators that increase blood flow ². Carrageenan- induced paw edema is widely used for determining the acute phase of inflammation.

Histamine, 5-hydroxy tryptamine and bradykinin are the first detectable mediators in the early phase of carrageenan induced inflammation ³, whereas prostaglandins are detectable in the late phase of inflammation ⁴.

The use of plant preparations and extracts of their anti fertility properties has a long-standing history among Indian physicians. In this regard, one such plant which has number of traditional uses is Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F (Family-Cucurbitaceae). It is perennial herb distributed over tropical parts of Tamil Nadu, India and well known as Athalakai. It is also found in this state’s of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh in India. It is traditionally used as abortifacient.

Ethanol extract is reported to have anti-ovulatory, abortifacient and anti implantation activity ⁵. The extracts and the dried form of fruit and leaves were shown to have anti diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti hyperglycemic activities ^6-9 and recently shown anti microbial activity ¹⁰.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Plant material: The plant material of the (Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F. (Family- Cucurbitaceae) Aerial parts were collected in the month of July 2010 from the village, Sivarakottai of Madurai district and authenticated by Dr. G. V. S. Murthy, Scientist & Head of Office Government of India, Botanical Survey of India, Southern Circle, T.N.A.U. Campus, Lawley Road, Coimbatore -641 003 with a voucher specimen No.- BSI/SRC/23/10/10-11/Tech.-575.

Treatment of Aerial Parts: The dried aerial parts were powdered by means of mixer grinder and were sieved through sieve no.40 to get the coarse powder (750gm) and it was extracted with methanol by continuous hot extraction method and obtained extract is concentrated and stored in vacuum desiccator. The obtained yield was found to be 8.2%. Then it was subjected to qualitative phytochemical analysis. The results related to that the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides.

Animals: Wistar rats were obtained from IRTT Perundurai Medical College, Perundurai, India, and used for anti-inflammatory study. They were fed on commercial diet and water ad libitum. All the animals were acclimatized for a week before use. The room temperature was maintained at 25±1^oC. The experimental protocol was approved by institutional animal ethical committee (JKKMMRFCP/IAEC/2010/ 016).

Acute Oral Toxicity: The acute oral toxicity of the Methanolic aerial parts extract of the Momordica cymbalaria Hook f was carried out as per OECD 423 – guidelines. The acute toxicity studies revealed that LD₅₀, Up to 5000mg/kg did not produce any toxic effect. Hence the biological dose was fixed as 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg respectively.

Experimental design: Experimental rats were divided into four groups of five animals each and treated for    2 days as follows.

Group-I:           Control (1% carrageenan 0.1 ml on 0.5%gum acacia solution 5ml/kg)

Group-II:          Standard (1% carrageenan 0.1 ml on 0.5%gum acacia solution 5ml/kg with Indomethacin 10mg/kg/p.o.)

Group-III:         1% carrageenan 0.1 ml on 0.5%gum acacia solution 5ml/kg Methanol Extract of aerial parts of M. cymbalaria Hook f (100 mg/kg/p.o.)

Group-IV:         1% carrageenan 0.1 ml on 0.5%gum acacia solution 5ml/kg Methanol Extract of aerial parts of M. cymbalaria Hook f (200 mg/kg/p.o.)

Procedure: Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups and each group consists of 5 animals. Paw swelling was induced by sub-plantar injection of 0.1 ml 1% sterile carrageenan in saline into the right hind paw. Group-I served as control which received the vehicle (1% carrageenan 0.1 ml on 5% gum acacia solution 5ml/kg) group-II received the standard drug (Indomethacin 10mg/kg/p.o.).

Group-III, IV, were received the plant extract 3, 4, 5 and 6 at the dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg/p.o.). All the treatments were given 60 minutes prior to carrageenan injection. The inflammation was quantified by measuring the volume displaced by the paw, using a Plethysmometer at time 0, 1, 2 and 3 hours after carrageenan administration. The paw volume was determined and the percentage inhibition of edema was calculated in comparison to the control group ^10-11.

% inhibition = (1 - Vt/Vc) X 100;

Where Vt = volume of test group, Vc = volume of control group

Statistical analysis: Values reported are expressed as mean ± SE and analyzed for ANOVA followed by Student’s t- test. A value of p<0.001 was regarded as significant.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION: The methanolic extract of aerial parts of Momordica cymbalaria hook f was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic phases. A significant value of (P < 0.01) anti-inflammatory activity was observed for extracts of Momordica cymbalaria hook f in Carrageenan, induced edema.

Carrageenan induced rat paw edema has been used as an inflammation model in order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the drug. There are two phases of Carrageenan induced inflammatory reaction early or first phase and later or second phase. It has been proposed that early phase results from histamine, serotonin and bradykinin liberation while late phase is associated with the release of prostaglandin. In Carrageenan induced paw edema and the extracts of Momordica cymbalaria hook F., showed maximum inhibitory activity at (55.43) with the dose of 200 mg/kg after 4 h of drug treatment (table 1, figure 1).

TABLE 1: ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AERIAL PARTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA CYMBALARIA HOOK F .BY USING CARRAGEENAN INDUCED PAW EDEMA METHOD

N=6 *P<0.01vs control Data were expressed as mean ± SEM; Data were analyzed by One way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s multiple comparison tests

Fig. 1: ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF AERIAL PARTS OF METHANOL EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA CYMBALARIA HOOK F .BY USING CARRAGEENAN INDUCED PAW EDEMA METHOD

From these results, it is suggested that anti inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of aerial parts of Momordica cymbalaria hook f on Carrageenan induced edema may be related to inhibition of inflammation mediator formation.

CONCLUSION: In the present pharmacological evaluation the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Momordica Cymbalaria Hook F (Family-Cucurbitaceae) was extensively investigated for its anti inflammatory activity. The Methanolic extract of aerial parts of Momordica cymbalaria Hook f (100,200mg/kg) has been showed significant anti inflammatory activity as compared to standard indomethacin in Carrageenan induced paw edema model.

The data suggested that the extract containing flavonoids compound may be significantly utilized as anti inflammatory activity. If other related further studies and clinical trials are carried out, it will definitely open up a new vistas in modern medicine.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The authors are very much thankful to Dr. J. K. K. Munirajah, M. Tech (Bolton), D.litt., Chairman, J. K. K. Munirajah Educational Institutions, for his encouragement and support.

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