Anti-inflammatory activity of Cleome ciliata leaf Schumach & Thonn. in acute and chronic inflammatory models using rodents

Abstract

Background and aim: Cleome ciliata is a medicinal plant with bioactive constituents used in ethnomedicine for inflammatory conditions. The study aimed to assess anti-inflammatory activity of C. ciliata.

Method: The dried leaves were subjected to hot-aqueous extraction and acute toxicity testing was done at  doses of 500,  1000, 2,500 and 5000 mg/kg, p.o. The anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract (200,  400 and 600 mg/kg)  was assessed in rats using the carrageenan assay, dextran assay and formalin-induced  arthritis models.

Results: Acute toxicity tests revealed the aqueous extract to be safe at all tested doses. The extract evoked  a dose- dependent reduction in paw thickness, with peak reduction at 600 mg/kg (0.9±0.0 vs 0.7±0.0 cm,  p<0.01). Similarly, all  doses also reduced dextran-induced paw thickness in a time-dependent and biphasic  fashion. The 200 mg/kg dose  elicited peak reduction at 2 h (0.7±0.0 vs 0.6±0.0 cm, p<0.05) while the 400 mg/kg elicited a late-onset effect at the 4th h  (0.9±0.0 vs 0.7±0.0 cm, p<0.0). C. ciliata aqueous extract also  exerted a phasic effect against formalin-induced arthritis,  reducing paw size at 200 and 400 mg/kg,  compared to control (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggests that aqueous extract of C. ciliata leaf evoked an anti-inflammatory  effect against  dextran induced oedema and formalin-induced arthritis in rats.