Suppression of Inflammatory Mediators by the Ethanol Extract of Crotalaria verrucosa L. leaf – in vivo and in vitro Analysis

Objective: The present study demonstrated the potential of Crotalaria verrucosa L., a widely used medicinal plant of Bangladesh, ethanolic leaf extract in inhibiting the cascades of inflammation.

Methods: Carrageenan induced rat paw edema and xylene induced mice ear edema tests were performed as in vivo assessment of anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, these methods were supported by the in vitro heat induced protein denaturation and haemolysis tests.

Results: In all experiments CVE extract shows moderate to significant efficacy. CVE 600 mg/kg significantly suppressed the biological response (edema) in comparison to both steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Moreover in vitro study suggested that the leaf extract at doses of 300, 400 and 500 µg/ml possess moderate to high inhibition capacity for auto antigen production which exerts extract’s potential against Type III hypersensitivity.

Conclusion: All these data support the safe use of this plant traditionally. However, the extract is yet to be explored for responsible compounds and specific mechanisms.