Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia in rats

Abstract

This study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizing
property of an aqueous extract of Mormodica charantia (MC) leaves in
rats. The carregeenin-induced rat paw oedema was utilized as the model
for acute inflammation, whilst formaldedyde-induced rat paw oedema was
used as the model for sub-chronic inflammatory states. The probable
mode by which MC mediates its effects on inflammatory conditions was
studied on rat blood cells (RBC) exposed to hypotonic solution. The results
of the study revealed that the extract possesses anti-inflammatory
property. MC was found to significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the oedema
swellings induced by the phlogistic agents in rats in a dose-related
manner. However, the extract did not exhibit membrane-stabilizing
property, as it failed to significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels of
haemolysis of RBC exposed to hypotonic solution. The acute toxicity
studies of oral doses of aqueous extract of Momordica charantia leaf in
mice revealed that it has a high safety profile, as the extract was well
tolerated by the animals. The results of the study suggest that the antiinflammatory activity demonstrated by Momordica charantia leaf may not be related to membrane-stabilization. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 9:119 - 124 , May 2006)

Keywords: Momordica charantia, anti-inflammatory, membrane-stabilizing property