Prerna Chauhan1, Surender Singh1, YK Gupta1, Uma Kumar2
1Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
2Department of Rheumatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
DOI: 10.4103/jnsbm.JNSBM_159_17
ABSTRACT
Background: In traditional Indian system of medicine, Terminalia bellerica (TB) is known to possess several medicinal properties. Preclinical studies addressing safety profile and anti-inflammatory activity of TB extract (TBE) in experimental animals are lacking. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxicity studies and anti-inflammatory potential of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of TB in Wistar albino rats. Methods: Acute and subacute oral toxicity studies of TBE were evaluated in Wistar albino rats. TBE was administered at doses of 2000 and 1000 mg/kg in acute and subacute toxicity studies, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity of TBE was evaluated in carrageenan-induced paw edema model. For the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity, animals were divided into five groups (Group 1 – control, Group 2 – indomethacin 3 mg/kg, Group 3 – TBE 100 mg/kg, Group 4 – TBE 200 mg/kg, Group 5 – TBE 400 mg/kg). Results: No mortality and signs of toxicity were observed in both acute and repeated dose toxicity studies after oral administration of TBE up to the dose level of 2000 mg/kg. TBE showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema model at 1, 3, and 5 h. A significant inhibition (P < 0.01) of paw edema as compared to control group was observed at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg at 1, 3, and 5 h. TBE showed comparable efficacy to indomethacin at 200 mg/kg. Maximum percentage inhibition was observed with TBE 200 mg/kg at 3 h (57.6%). Conclusion: The results indicate that hydroalcoholic extract of TB fruit is safe and exhibits a significant anti-inflammatory activity in experimental rats.
Keywords: Carrageenan, Indomethacin, Inflammation, Paw edema, Toxicity.
