PHARMACOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF TECOMELLA UNDULATE IN ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN RAT

Inflammation is a biological reaction attributed with several acute and chronic pathological conditions. The study revealed the pharmacological effect of Tecomella undulate: bark against carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma in rat. Wistar albino rats of either sex (180-240 g) were employed into the study. Acute inflammation was induced by injecting carrageenan (1%) in rat paw and estimated using plethysmograph. Chronic inflammation was induced by cotton pellet induced granuloma method. Serum nitrate/nitrate estimation was also done as an index of inflammatory reactions. Acute toxicity study was also done using Swiss albino mice. Butanolic and water fractions of Tecomella undulate (200 & 400 mg/kg) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg) were used as test drugs. Carrageennan caused a marked increase in rat paw volume due to edema formation. T. undulate: butanolic fraction significantly inhibited paw volume in successive hours similar to indomethacin. Interscapular implanted cotton caused significant increase in granuloma wt. and serum nitrate/nitrite level in control group. However, the test drugs lowered the effects of cotton pellet induced chronic inflammation. Therefore, the results may conclude that the bark of T. undulate is having a pharmacological potential to treat acute and chronic inflammation in rat.