Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory activity of Qurs-e-Mafasil Jadeed

With an increased incidence of drug toxicity and resistance to allopathic drugs, plant drug formulations could be an interesting alternative. Some plant drugs and phytochemicals are known to be anti-inflammatory properties, and can be of great significance in treatment of inflammatory disorders. These considerations require the scientific evaluation of the most important and commonly used traditional herbal formulations. A study has been done to find anti-inflammatory activity of Qurs-e-Mafasil Jadeed containing Colchicun luteum, Curcuma longa and gum of Acacia Arabica. In this proposed work 2 % aqueous suspension of qurs/tablet powder in gum acacia was used to determine its anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenin induced oedema test and cotton pellet induced granuloma test. Efficacy of this Unani formulation was compared with standard referent drug, Diclofenac sodium. The obtained results using carrageenin oedema test showed decrease in left hind paw volume significantly after 3 hours of carrageenin injection. In cotton pellet induced granuloma test, animals in all the test and standard drug tested groups, shows reduction in granuloma formation significantly. Thus, our results clearly indicate that this test formulation possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and sub-acute phase.

Participation of the adrenal gland in the anti-inflammatory effect of polyunsaturated diets

The effect of an n-3 (fish) and n-6 (soybean) fatty acid-rich diet on carrageenin paw oedema in rats, and the participation of adrenal gland, corticosterone and α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) in this process were studied. A significant inhibition of carrageenin oedema was observed not only in rats fed a diet rich in fish oil but also in the soybean group. α2-M was not detectable before carrageenin injection, suggesting that this putative antiinflammatory factor does not participate in the observed anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosterone levels were higher in fat-fed than in control rats, before carrageenin stimulus and adrenalectomy abolished the anti-inflammatory response in fat-fed animals, showing the important role of the adrenocortical hormones in this process.

Different Efficacy of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Inhibiting the Reactions to Intradermal Phospholipase A and PGE2

The increase in local vascular permeability caused by intradermal injection of Phospholipase A is antagonized by both steroidal and non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs at dose levels roughly equieffective in carrageenin oedema test. In the same range of doses these drugs are scantly effective against PGE2— induced increase of vascular permeability. Since it is generally accepted that Phospholipase A stimulates prostaglandin formation and alters cell membranes function the effect of non-steroidal drugs is interpreted as an inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis and the effect of steroidal drugs as a membrane stabilization. In addition the results indicate that both steroidal and non-steroidal drugs are devoid of a direct antagonistic effect towards the increase of vascular permeability induced by PGE2.