Phytochemical investigation and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of essential oil of Strobilanthus ixiocephala Benth.

Column chromatographic fractionation of essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the flowering tops of S. ixiocephala resulted in the isolation of beta-caryophyllene, fenchyl acetate, T-cadinol and a new sesquiterpene alcohol for which a name ixiocephol has been proposed. The beta-caryophyllene and fenchyl acetate were identified by Co-TLC with authentic samples whereas T-cadinol and ixiocephol were structurally elucidated by UV, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and Mass spectral data. The GC-MS analysis of the essential oil has also revealed the presence of various monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. The essential oil of S. ixiocephala demonstrated a dose dependant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema. It has also revealed good activity in cotton pellet granuloma and adjuvant induced arthritis model in rats.

Inhibitory role of Syzygium cumini on autacoid-induced inflammation in rats.

The ethanolic extract of Syzygium cumini bark has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity in our previous studies. The present study is an attempt to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activity of S. Cumini bark against inflammation induced by individual autacoid insult. Histamine (1 mg/ml), 5-HT (1 mg/ml), bradykinin (0.02 mg/ml) and PGE2 (0.001 mg/ml) were used as inflammogens. One of these agents (0.1 ml) was injected s.c. into the right hind paw of each rat. The ethanolic extract of S. cumini bark was tested at the doses of 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, p.o. The results indicated the anti-inflammatory activity of S. cumini bark in histamine, 5-HT and PGE2-induced rat paw oedema. However, there was no such significant inhibition of oedema volume observed in bradykinin-induced rat paw oedema at any dose level. Thus, it is concluded that S. cumini exhibits inhibitory role on inflammatory response to histamine, 5-HT and PGE2.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Indian Hypericum perforatum L.

A standardised 50% aqueous ethanolic extract of the Indian variety of Hypericum perforatum (IHp) was examined for its putative anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, po. The experimental paradigms used were carrageenan induced pedal edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma for anti-inflammatory activity, whereas the tail flick, hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing methods were used to asses analgesic activity. Indomethacin (20 mg/kg, ip) was used as the standard anti-inflammatory drug. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg, ip) and aspirin (25 mg/kg, ip), both clinically used analgesics, were used as standard analgesics for comparison. IHp extract showed significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at both dose levels, in all the paradigms used. Additionally, IHp potentiated the anti-inflammatory activity of indomethacin and analgesic activities of pentazocine and aspirin.