SCREENING SELECTED SPECIES OF GOMPHOSTEMMA WALL. EX BENTH. FROM WESTERN GHATS FOR ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY

Gomphostemma Wall. ex Benth. belongs to the family Lamiaceae. The present study evaluated selected species of Gomphostemma endemic to the Western Ghats for their anti-inflammatory property. Traditionally, many species of Gomphostemma are used to treat malarial fever and inflammations caused by insect stings. Methanol extracts of Gomphostemma heyneanum var. heyneanum, G. heyneanum var. rottleri and G. eriocarpum were prepared and subjected to various in-vitro assays to examine their anti-inflammatory potential. Anti-inflammatory activity was initially screened with protein denaturation and proteinase inhibitory assays. Among the three extracts screened, G. heyneanum var. heyneanum showed significant activity comparable to the standard diclofenac sodium. Further, the effective extract of G. heyneanum var. heyneanum was evaluated for its effect on LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. The effect of the extract on various inflammatory mediators like cyclooxygenase (COX), cellular nitrite and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed. The extract inhibited cyclooxygenase and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity in a dose-dependent manner projecting the anti-inflammatory potential of the plant. The potent phytochemicals present in the plants may be attributed to the activity shown by the plants.