Protective Effects of Thespesia populnea (L.) Sol ex. Correa in Inflammatory, Nociceptive and Arthritic Conditions on Experimental Animals

Aims: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiarthritis activities of methanolic extract of T. populnea flower (TPF) and root (TPR) extract; yet unreported.
Study Design: Extraction and administration of bioactive extract.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacognosy, R.V.S. College of Pharmaceutical Science, Sulur, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India, between June 2010 and July 2011.
Methodology: Thespesia populnea flowers and roots were extracted by soxhlet extraction using methanol. Anti-inflammatory activity of TPF and TPR was studied by using acetic acid induced vascular permeability and cotton-pellet granuloma. The antinociceptive activity of TPF and TPR was evaluated using formalin-induced paw licking response and the hot-plate test. The antiarthritic activity was studied by using adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rat. In addition total flavonoid content was determined with spectrophotometric method.
Results: Administration of TPF and TPR (400 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the formation of granuloma tissue induced by cotton pellet at a rate of 37.06% and 25.76% respectively. TPF and TPR inhibited acetic acid-induced vascular permeability in mice. In the adjuvant-induced arthritis test TPF and TPR inhibited 50.68% and 30.13% of paw thickness respectively. TPF and TPR also produced significant (P < 0.01) analgesic activity in formalin-induced paw licking response. In the hot-plate test, TPF and TPR have shown significantly (P < 0.01) increased in latency time when compared with control.
Conclusion: Altogether, the present data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory antinociceptive and antiarthritis properties of flower and root of Thespesia populnea suggesting its potential role as adjuvant therapeutic tool for the management of inflammatory-related diseases.