Abstract

EVALUATION OF INVITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI BARK IN WISTAR RATS

*Karthikeyan L., Elavarasi R., Venkateswaran V.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Many pharmacological activities have been reported for Syzygium cumini. The aim of present study was to investigate invitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its ethanolic bark extracts. Materials and Methods: Invitro Antioxidant activities of Ethanolic extracts were evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay and ABTS radical cation scavenging assay and anti-inflammatory activities of its Ethanolic extract were evaluated by Histamine induced rat paw edema in male wistar rats. Result: Extracts showed significant invitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extract at different concentration was compared with the standard quercetin. Smaller IC50 value indicates a higher antioxidant potential. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extract was compared with that of the standard and the IC50 values obtained were 134.47 μg/ml and 240 μg/ml for standard and extract. Extracts showed the promising radical scavenging activity of the extract due to hydrogen-donating ability of the extract. The ability of the extract to donate hydrogen atoms or electrons to scavenge the radical cation was reflected by the decolourization of ABTS radical cation. The radical scavenging activity of the extract was compared with that of the standard and the IC50 values obtained were 44.495 μg/ml and 97.928 μg/ml for standard and extract respectively. Both doses of extract (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) exerted a significant inhibition of 15.97% and 36.83% at 1 h, 48.11% and 55.89% at 2 h, 58.46% and 69.09% at 3 h respectively in the histamine induced rat paw edema model. It was observed that the extract was capable of inhibiting edema induced by histamine and the effectiveness for suppression of edema might be due to the ability of extract to inhibit the synthesis, release or action of histamine involved in the inflammation. Conclusion: Our studies indicate that Syzygium cumini bark extract showed significant invitro antioxidant by terminating the action of free radicals and anti-inflammatory activity which was evident with reduction in mean paw edema volume in histamine induced inflammatory models. These results introduced these plants as easily accessible source of natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Keywords: Syzygium cumini, Anti-oxidant, Anti-inflammatory.