Abstract

The bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya, has been used in Mexican folk medicine for treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity, on various animal models using carrageenan-induced oedema, cotton pellets-induced granuloma, induction of acute inflammation by histamine, croton oil induced ear oedema, activity of myeloperoxidase, adjuvant-induced arthritis, quantification of tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNFα), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) and leukotriene B4 (LTB₄) in arthritic rat. Methanol extract (PAM) was also performed by assessing the activities of lipoxygenase and xanthine-oxidase. Our data indicate that PAM exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in all the trials of paw and ear oedema induced exhibiting also anti-arthritic activity. PAM could also markedly inhibit production of proinflammatory cytokines, especially TNFα, IL-1β, PGE₂ and LTB₄. These effects resulted in an attenuation of the inflammatory cytokines and ultimately suppression of the oedema. The extract also inhibited lipoxygenase and xanthine-oxidase. It was seen that PAM is effective on chronic inflammation and acute inflammation.

Key words: Eysenhardtia polystachya, anti-inflammatory, cytokines, inflammation.