IN VIVO ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF EMU OIL (DROMAIS NOVAEHOLLANDIAE) AND VIRGIN COCONUT OIL (COCOS NUCIFERA) ON PHORBOL ESTER INDUCED ACUTE INFLAMMATORY MODEL

Inflammation is a cellular reaction to injury and plays a central role in pathophysiology of a variety of diseases.Oil derived from Emu (Dromais novaehollandiae) fat, is reported to have healing property. The present investigation was performed to demonstrate in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of Emu oil using phorbol ester induced acute inflammatory ear edema model. Also, the efficacy of Emu oil was compared with Virgin Coconut Oil extracted from coconut (Cocos nucifera) which is traditionally being used in India. Acute inflammation was induced applying 20 μl of 2% Croton oil (a phorbol ester) in Swiss Albino mice inner pinna. After 2 hours, ears were treated with single application of 20 μl of Emu oil and Virgin Coconut oil. Pinna thickness was measured pretreatment and 6 and 24 hours of post treatment. After 24 hours, animals were euthanized and ear punches were collected and weighed. Peak edema was evidenced at 2 hours of croton oil application. Emu oil and Virgin Coconut oil significantly attenuated croton oil induced inflammation. Inhibition of edema was observed starting from 2 hours of post treatment and Emu oil exhibited peak reduction than Virgin Coconut oil with the maximum efficacy at 6 hours post treatment. Virgin Coconut oil showed maximum reduction around 24 hours post treatment. There were no significant differences between weights of ear punches between treatments. Our findings support in-vivo anti-inflammatory effect of Emu oil and Virgin coconut oil and also validate their use in treating local inflammatory conditions.