Screening of anti-inflammatory activity and dose selection of Mollugo pentaphylla by using cotton pellet induced granuloma in rat

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory activity of the plant Mollugo pentaphylla (Ethanolic Extract) was studied by using sub acute model like cotton pellet induced granuloma technique. Sterilized raw cotton was implanted in the axilla and growing region of the rat. The ethanolic extract of the plant was administered orally (at dose 200mg/kg and 400 mg/kg body weight) by inhibiting wet weight and dry weight of the cotton pellet 47.81%, 30.08% and 30.74%, 27.81 respectively. The standard drug dexamethasone at 0.5 mg/kg body weight also inhibits the wet weight and dry weight of cotton pellet 54.45% and 46.36% respectively.  The spleen weight and total WBC count was reduced significantly (p<0.05). After studying three parameters (granuloma weight, spleen weight and total WBC count) herbal extract 200mg/kg was selected the best and safety dose for anti-inflammatory activity. The preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed the presence of steroidal saponins which may be responsible for tit’s anti-inflammatory activity.