Anti-Inflammatory potential of Moringa oleifera Leaves in Wistar rats.

Abstract

(Moringaceae) is a bush of African savannah, commonly known as Drum stick used in folk Medicine for the treatment of rheumatic and articulanry pain. Its seeds shown analgesic activity [7], Antipyretic activity [8]. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids, steroids and tannins have been reported [23] hence the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects produced by these extracts may be attributed due to the flavonoids and steroids. However, its pharmacological actions and mechanisms have not been precisely documented in spite of its increasing usage recently. Present work reported the potential effects of the stem bark of Moringa oleifera, as an anti-inflammatory agent using both in vivo and in vitro models. Carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma formation in rats reflect the edematous stages during acute and chronic inflammation. [24,25] In the present study, two different extracts of leaves of Moringa oleifera were tested. Carrageenan induced rat paw edema has been a popular inflammatory model to investigate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory effect of compounds [26] Serotonin, histamine, bradykinin, and prostaglandin have been identified as a mediators for carrageenan induced rat paw edema. [27] Petroleum ether and methanolic extracts were found to possess a prominent anti-inflammatory activity, showing inhibition to the paw edema induced by carrageenan during the three time points from 1 to 3 h. In cotton pellet granuloma model Petroleum ether and methanolic extracts showed significant inhibition.
Key Words: Moringa oleifera, Anti-inflammatory, Carrageenan, cotton pellet