Brine shrimp cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of woodfordia fruticosa kurz flowers

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to assess the cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers. Cytotoxic activity of methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers was tested using Artemia salina [Brine shrimp] bioassay. Two doses [400 and 600 mg/Kg] were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory activity against the carrageenan, histamine, dextran, serotonin and formaldehyde-induced rat paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and formaldehyde-induced analgesia in rats. In cytotoxicity study, extract caused 73% mortality of Brine shrimp larvae after 24 h at a concentration of 1000 microg/mL. The results of the anti-inflammatory study showed that the extract produced significant [p < 0.05] decrease in paw volume in different models of paw edema. The extract also inhibited the formation of granuloma in cotton pellet-induced granuloma and reduced the frequency of formaldehyde-induced paw licking. These results showed that the methanol extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers have weak cytotoxic and potent anti-inflammatory compounds and justifies the traditional uses for the treatment of inflammatory conditions