Cyclooxygenase Inhibitory, Cytotoxicity and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants Used in Indian Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Introduction: The enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) has been implicated to be a key enzyme involved in recruiting inflammations. Developing COX inhibitors has remained one of the important aspects of developing novel and safe antiinflammatory agents. An attempt has made to find the medicinal plants as alternatives to presently available NSAIDs (Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Methods: In the present study the samples of Enicostema axillare (Lam.) Raynal. [Gentianaceae], Argemone mexicana L. [Papaveraceae], Clerodendrum multiflorum (Burm.f.) O. Ktze. [Verbenaceae], Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. [Solanaceae], Polyalthia longifolia (Sonner.) Thw. [Annonaceae] and Vitex nigundo L. [Verbenaceae] were sequentially extracted in water, ethanol and hexane and were evaluated in-vitro for COX-1 and 2 inhibitory activities. The free radical scavenging activities were carried out along with cytotoxicity evaluation. Results: Among the tested plants, E. axillare showed promising COX-2 inhibiting activity in ethanol (48.71 ± 0.035 %), water (42.13 ± 0.030 %) and hexane (12.31 ± 0.040 %) as compared to COX-1 inhibition in ethanol (14.73 ± 0.030 %), water (27.64 ± 0.030 %) and hexane (6.92 ± 0.031 %). The contents of the water extracts of majority of the plant samples were found to interact with DPPH, superoxide and OH radicals. The selected plants did not showed cytoxicity except a poor toxicity demonstrated by ethanol extract of P. longifolia (0.15 ± 0.040 %). HPTLC analysis was carried out to study the flavonoids diversity of the selected plant samples. Conclusion: The results obtained shows that majority of the plants under study were found to inhibit COX-2 activity significantly as compared to COX-1 activity. However, more detailed studies are required to assess the safety and efficacy of these plants.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of selected medicinal plants used in Indian traditional medication system in vitro as well as in vivo

“…28 , 29 It is evident that several plants have been used in traditional ayurvedic medicine for treatment and management of distinct inflammatory disorders and wound healing activities. 30 There is clear evidence addressing the importance of plant derived COX inhibitors in the management of inflammatory disorders. Baumann and coworkers were the first to report in a study that some dietary polyphenols inhibit arachidonic acid peroxidation.…”

Beneficial effects of methanolic extract of Indigofera linnaei Ali. on the inflammatory and nociceptive responses in rodent models

“…COX-1 and COX-2. These two isoforms of COX are almost identical in structure but have important differences in substrate and inhibitor selectivity and in their intracellular locations (Gacche et al, 2011). Among these two isoforms, COX-2 involved in mediating the inflammatory process produces PGE 2 from endogenous arachidonic acid.…”

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Changes in Antioxidant Properties of Leaf and Stem Extracts fromVitex mollisKunth duringIn VitroDigestion

“…presented also the major phenolic content ( Figure 2(b) ). In the study of Gacche et al [ 35 ], polar extracts of Vitex negundo showed higher DPPH radical scavenging activity, while the nonpolar extract did not react with this radical. Similar to our results, in hexanic extracts of Vitex mollis , DPPH radical inhibition was very low in both parts of the plant.…”