Anti-inflammatory activity of Trichodesma indicum root extract in experimental animals

The chloroform extract of Trichodesma indicum root has been evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity against oedema produced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine and serotonin, and against formation of granulation tissues by cotton pellet in rats. The effect was compared with the activity of indomethacin, cyperoheptadine and dexamethasone against different types of inflammation. The chloroform extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg exhibited significant (P < 0.001) anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic inflammatory models. At 200 mg/kg the chloroform extract showed maximum inhibition of 48.12% in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema while the standard indomethacin inhibited it by 54.32% after 3 h of carrageenan injection. The chloroform extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.001) and dose-dependently inhibited dextran, histamine and serotonin-induced rat paw oedema compared with control group (vehicle-treated). In the chronic inflammatory model, the chloroform extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) inhibited the granuloma weight by 15.42 and 21.12%, respectively, whereas the indomethacin and dexamethasone inhibited it by 29.29 and 34.13%, respectively. The results obtained suggest marked anti-inflammatory activity of the extract at the dose levels examined.