Antiarthiritis and Invivo Anti-Oxidant Effect of Plumbago Zeylanica Linn in Freund’s Complete Adjuvant Induced Arthiritis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present investigation are: To prepare hydroalcoholic extract of Plumbago zeylanica L. (HAEPZ) and to carry out preliminary phytochemical screening of the extract. To study the anti-inflammatory activity of HAEPZ. To study the analgesic activity of HAEPZ. To study the anti-arthritic activity of HAEPZ. DISCUSSION: Plumbago zeylanica L. is an Indian garden shrub with potent medicinal properties. The present investigation is undertaken to find its analgesic, antiinflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Plumbago zeylanica L. The anti-inflammatory activity was performed using carrageenan induced rat paw edema. Carrageenan is a sea weed which serves as a phlogistic substance when injected locally into the sub-plantar region. The acute severe inflammation is morphologically visible which is evaluated by paw volume. The paw edema induced by sub-plantar injection is biphasic. The early phase involves the release of serotonin, histamine and kinins, while the late phase is mediated by prostaglandins (77) Vinegar et al., 1969). In the present investigation there was an increase in the paw volume upon injection of carrageenan as observed at 1h, 2h, 3h,4h and 24h. Pre-treatment with hydroalcoholic extract of Plumbago zeylanica L. 200 and 400 mg/kg decrease the paw volume at 3h and 4h. Histamine is released at 1h. Serotonin and bradykinin are released at 2h and prostaglandins are released at 3h. Thus the observed decrease in paw volume might be due to inhibition of prostaglandins. Insertion of cotton pellet forms granuloma which is a sub-acute inflammatory condition. This leads to tissue proliferation and granuloma formation. This method is widely employed to assess transudative, exudative and proliferative components. The dry weight of the granuloma correlates with the amount of granulomatous tissue formed. In the present study dry weight granuloma has significantly reduced with HAEPZ 200 and 400 mg/kg treated groups which indicate that HAEPZ at higher doses is effective in alleviating inflammation. Hot plate and tail flick is used to evaluate centrally acting analgesics. In the present study there was no significant change brought about by HAEPZ in any of these models which indicate HAEPZ is devoid of central analgesic activity. CONCLUSION:It could be concluded from present investigation that HAEPZ possesses potent anti-inflammatory, peripheral analgesic and anti-arthritic property. It was able to inhibit acute inflammatory response in various animal models & was able to ameliorate arthritic changes in the FCA induced RA model in rats. It also exhibited a potent antioxidant profile by inhibition of generation of ROS and decrease in oxidative stress. These observations provide pharmacological credence to ethnobotanical claims of traditional Indian system of medicine. This study proves for the first time anti-arthritic potential of HAEPZ. The study would contribute to develop novel herbal formulations which will pave the way for explorations of novel vistas in the field of anti-inflammatory drugs