Anti-inflammatory activity of Ocimum sanctum (Linn) in formalin induced acute models of albino rats

Abstract

The inflammatory process is the response to an injurious stimulus. It can be evoked by a wide variety of noxious agents (e.g., infections, antibodies, physical injuries). Many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, phenylbutazone, indomethacin etc. are in clinical use but all these are not completely devoid of adverse effects. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of O. sanctum alone and in combination with indomethacin was studied using formalin-induced rat paw edema. Aqueous extract of O. sanctum (200mg/kg, 300mg/kg  or 400mg/kg) was administered alone and in combination with indomethacin (25mg/kg) to separate group of rats and paw volume was measured by plethysmometer and compared with control group. All the test groups showed significant (P<0.05) anti-inflammatory effect in formalin-induced rat paw edema. The reduction of edema by O. sanctum was better than that of the standard anti-inflammatory drug, indomethacin and on co-administration marginally improved the anti-inflammatory profile of indomethacin. O.sanctum possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity probably due to inhibition of both cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism (dual inhibitory property).

KEYWORDS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); Indomethacin; Plethysmometer.