Evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Stephania rotunda in experimental animals

Background: The objective of the current study was to analyse the anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Stephania rotunda in experimental animals. Methods: It was an experimental study conducted in the experimental laboratory with 30 acclimatized healthy albino rats and mice divided into 5 groups namely A, B, C, D, and E fed with the aqueous extract of Stephania rotunda in laboratory conditions to assess the anti-inflammatory property using Carrageenan induced rat paw oedema for acute inflammation, granuloma pouch for sub-acute inflammation and Formaldehyde induced arthritis for chronic inflammation from 17th December 2019 to 22nd January 2021. Aspirin was taken as the standard drug. Data was analysed using Chi-square test. Results: In assessment for acute inflammation, the aqueous extract of Stephania rotunda in the doses of 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 2000 mg/kg for groups B, C and D respectively produced 17.12%, 17.12% and 18.78% inhibition of paw oedema which was statistically significant when compared to 22.65% inhibition produced by 100mg/kg of the standard drug aspirin in group E. The groups B, C and D with the extract doses of 500mg/kg, 1000mg/kg and 2000mg/kg produced 43%, 60% and 77% inhibitions of exudate formation respectively which statistically was significant as compared to the Standard aspirin of group E which produced 62% inhibition of exudate formation. In chronic inflammation testing, both the extract and standard drugs produced highly significant inhibition of paw oedema when compared to inhibition produced by the Control. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of Stephania rotunda was found to be a potent anti-inflammatory drug when compared with Aspirin. Further tests are required in a larger scale so as to ascertain the effects for human consumption.