In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of Garcinia indica fruit rind (Kokum) in rats

The aqueous extract of Garcinia indica fruit rind (GIE) was studied for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma in rats. Wistar rats were orally administered GIE (400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg) and the standard drug diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg) 60 min prior to a subcutaneous injection of carrageenan (0.1 ml of 1% w/v) into their right hind paws to produce edema. The paw volumes were measured at various time intervals to assess the effect of drug treatment. In the granuloma model, 4 sterile cotton pellets were implanted in the ventral region in each rat. GIE (400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg) and the standard drug diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg) were administered orally for 8 days to the pellet implanted rats. The granuloma tissue formation was calculated from the dissected pellets and the activities of the marker enzymes AST, ALT and ALP were assayed from the serum. A significant reduction in paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma was observed with GIE treatment when compared with the carrageenan treated and cotton pellet implanted animals respectively. GIE treatment significantly attenuated the AST, ALT & ALP activities elevated by foreign body granulomas provoked in rats by the subcutaneous implantation of cotton pellets. It may be concluded that GIE possesses anti-inflammatory activity which may be due to an underlying antioxidant activity and/ or lysosomal membrane stabilization by virtue of its phenolic constituents.