Abstract
In this study, the aqueous (AQJP) and alcoholic (ALJP) extracts of the whole plant of Justicia prostrata Gamble (Acanthaceae) were screened for their acute and subacute anti-inflammatory activities using carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and cotton-pellet-induced granuloma (subacute inflammation), respectively, in rats. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model, both extracts were found to exhibit maximum reduction in paw volume at the first hour in a dose-dependent manner. At the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o., both extracts AQJP and ALJP showed maximum inhibition (51.39% and 62.5%, respectively) in rat paw oedema volume at the first hour of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. In the cotton pellet granuloma assay, AQJP and ALJP at the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. suppressed the transudative, exudative and proliferative phases of chronic inflammation. These extracts were able to (i) reduce the lipid peroxide content of exudates and liver and (ii) normalize the increased activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases in serum and liver of cotton pellet granulomatous rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of lignans, triterpenes and phenolic compounds in ALJP, whereas phenolic compounds and glycosides in AQJP. The anti-inflammatory properties of these extracts may possibly be due to the presence of phenolic compounds. The anti-inflammatory effects produced by the extracts at the dose of 500 mg/kg, p.o. was comparable with the reference drug diclofenac sodium (5 mg/kg p.o.).
References
Bardhan, P. and Sharma, S. K. (1983). Lipid peroxidation in experimental inflammation, Arogya J. Health Sci. 9, 120–124.
Bhatt, K. R., Mehta, R. K. and Srivastava, P. N. (1977). A simple method for recording anti-inflammatory effects on rat paw oedema, Ind. J. Phys. Pharmacol. 21, 399–490.
Castro, J., Sasame, H., Sussman, H., et al. (1968). Diverse effects of SK 1752 and antioxidants on CCl4 induced changes in liver microsomal P-450 content and ethylmorphine metabolism, Life Sci. 7, 129–136.
Chayen, J., Bitensky, L., et al. (1976). Methods for the direct measurement of anti-inflammatory action on human tissue maintained in vitro, Br. J. Dermatol. 82(Suppl.), 6–62.
Desai, I. D., Sawant, P. L. and Tappel, A. L. T. (1964). Peroxidative and radiation damage to isolated lysosomes, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 86, 277–285.
Ghosal, S., Banerjee, S. and Frahm, A. W. (1979). Prostalidins A, B, C and retrochinensin: A new antidepressant: 4-aryl-2, 3 naphthalide lignans from Justicia prostrate, Chem. Ind., 854–855.
King, E. I. (1965). The hydrolases, acid, alkaline phosphatases, in: Practical Clinical Enzymology, pp. 191–208. Van Nostrand, London.
Kokate, C. K., Purohit, A. P. and Gokhale, S. B. (1997). In: Pharmacognosy, 5th edn, pp. 109–137. Nirali Prakashan, India.
Morris, C. J., Earl, J. R., Trenam, C. W., et al. (1995). Review: reactive oxygen species and Iron — a dangerous partnership in inflammation, Int. J. Biochem. Cell. Biol. 27, 109–122.
Nishikaze, O., Takita, H. and Takase, T. (1980). Activity of newly discovered protease in Carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. IRCS medical science, Biochem. Connect. Tissue Skin Bone Pharmacol. Survey Transpl. 8, 725.
Sadique, J., Chandra, T., et al. (1987). Biochemical modes of action of Cassia occidentalis and Cardiospermum halcacabum in inflammation, J. Ethnopharmacol. 19, 201–212.
Sanmugapriya, E. (2001). Chemical and pharmacological evaluation of Justicia prostrata, M. Pharm Thesis, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Sanmugapriya, E., Shanmugasundaram, P. and Venkataraman, S. (2003). Antinociceptive effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Justicia prostrate, Biomedicine 23, 113–117.
Sanmugapriya, E., Shanmugasundaram, P. and Venkataraman, S. (2005). Antiulcerogenic effect of Justicia prostrata Gamble, Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 43, 181–186.
Spector, W. G. (1969). The granulomatous inflammatory exudates, Int. Rev. Exp. Pathol. 8, 1–55.
Swingle, K. F. and Shideman, F. E. (1972). Phases of the inflammatory response to subcutaneous implantation of a cotton pellet and their modification by certain anti-inflammatory agents, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 183, 226–234.
Swingle, K. T. (1974). Evaluation for anti-inflammatory activity, in: Anti-inflammatory agents. Chemistry and Pharmacology, Vol. 2, Scherrer, R. A. and Whitehouse M. W. (Eds), pp. 34–122. Academic Press, New York, NY.
Vinegar, R., Schreiber, W. and Hugo, R. (1969). Biphasic development of Carrageenan oedema in rats, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 166, 96–103.
Whitehouse, M. W. (1974). In: Introduction and Background to the Regulation of Inflammation and the Immune Response, Vol. 2, p. 12. Academic Press, New York, NY.
Winter, C. A., Risley, E. A. and Nuss, G. W. (1962). Carrageenin induced oedema hind paw of the rat as an assay for anti-inflammatory drug, Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 11, 544–547.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sanmugapriya, E., Shanmugasundaram, P. & Venkataraman, S. Anti-inflammatory activity of Justicia prostrata gamble in acute and sub-acute models of inflammation. Inflammopharmacol 13, 493–500 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1163/156856005774649313
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156856005774649313