Publication:

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Boswellia serrata on carrageenan induced paw edema in albino Wistar rats

Background Inflammation is a response of the immune system, guarding the individual against infection. It is a major burning problem worldwide and billions of individuals are affected. Moreover administration of current anti-inflammatory drugs is often associated with severe side effects. Hence alternative therapeutic modules are necessitated. Now a day’s herbal medicines are using due to their high efficacy and harmless to cure the diseases. In traditional medicine Boswellia serrata (B. serrata) has been widely used to treat various diseases which also include Inflammation. Till now the effect of B serrata on inflammation was not well understood. Hence In the present study we made an attempt to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of B. Serrata against carrageenan induced paw edema which is acute model of inflammation.

Methods Albino wistar rats were divided into five groups, group 1 treated with carrageenan (control) whereas group 2, 3, and 4 treated with different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/bw) of B. serrata along with carrageenan, respectively. Group 5 treated with standard drug (Indomethacin 10 mg/kg/bw). Carrageenan induced paw edema and histopathological study of paw were evaluated in all experimental rats.

Results The present study clearly demonstarted that carrageenan significantly increased paw edema and cellular infiltrates whereas B. serrata treated rats significantly decreased the paw edema and histopathological finding of cellular infiltrates and found to be greater at higher concentration i.e., 200 mg/kg/b/wt as compared to standard drug.

Conclusions The findings from the above study proves that B. serrata has high anti-inflammatory activity and supports its usage in traditional medicine as herbal anti-inflammatory medicine.