ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF ORAL DECOCTION OF PTEROCARPUS SANTALINUS BARK WOOD POWDER IN ACUTE INFLAMMATION MODEL

Background: Raktachandan / Pterocarpus santalinus is mentioned to have edema reducing property in Ayurvedic literature. Studies have been performed using its methanolic extract for anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant activities. Since, Ayurveda advises to use it as a decoction, we planned to study the acute anti-inflammatory activity of decoction prepared from Pterocarpus santalinus bark-wood powder. Methodology: Albino rats of either sex were divided into 4 groups of 6 rats each (Group I – Control (CMC-vehicle), Group II – Ibuprofen suspension, Group III – P. santalinus suspension 3.5 mg/kg, Group IV – P. santalinus suspension 7 mg/kg. All the experimental animals were given standard and test drugs orally, 45 min before inducing inflammation. Acute inflammation was induced by injecting 0.1ml of 1% carrageenan solution in sub-plantar tissue of left hind paw of the rats. Paw volume (Plethysmometer) and pain assessment (Randall and Selitto paw withdrawal method) were done at 0 h (before medication), then at 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h after induction of inflammation. Data was analysed using Graph Pad Prism version 5. ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used for comparison among groups. Results: P. santalinus suspension 7 mg/kg and ibuprofen treated rats showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in their paw volume compared to the other groups. There was significant reduction in pain threshold (gm/sec) in all the groups (p<0.05) but in P. santalinus 7  mg/kg  and Ibuprofen treated groups the pain threshold gradually increased after 2 h of induction of inflammation. Conclusion: Orally given decoction of Pterocarpus santalinus bark-wood powder in 7 mg/kg dose showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in carrageenan induced inflammatory model in rats.