INTRODUCTION
Cymbidium aloifolium is an epiphytic herb found throughout Bangladesh
especially in the hill tracts of Chittagong. Cymbidium aloifolium also
has uses in the folk medicine: The root is used to cure paralysis and joining
fractured bones, leaf extract for treating boils and fever, whole plant used
for treating weakness of eyes, chronic illness, vertigo, burns and sores (Hossain
et al., 2009a). Literature review of this plant has resulted in the
isolation of several Flavonoids, Reducing Sugars, Cyanogenic glycosides, Terpenoids,
Tannins (Maridassa et al., 2008), two substituted
bibenzyls, Dihydrophenanthrene and Phenanthraquinone which are responsible for
biological activity (Hossain et al., 2009a).
Presence of different chemical compounds of this plant may possess some pharmacological
activities. However, no work has been reported on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory
activities of this plant. The present study was undertaken to investigate the
analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the crude extract of Cymbidium
aloifolium in mice to substantiate the folklore claim.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant material: The leaves of Cymbidium aloifolium were collected
from Dhaka in December 2010 and were identified by the experts of national herbarium,
Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Accession No. DACB-35414) and a voucher specimen
was kept for future reference.
Preparation of the extract: The leaves were thoroughly washed with water. The collected leaves were cut into small pieces and dried in sun for 15 days. The dried small pieces of the plant leaves were ground into small powder by blender machine. Then the powders were preserved in separate airtight container for further use. The plant powders (100 g) were extracted by cold extraction process using ethanol (600 mL) as solvent in a bottom glass container, through occasional shaking and stirring for 7 days. After 7 days the extract filtered through the cotton at first and then through the filter paper. Then the liquid was dried with rotary evaporator to achieve a blackish mass.
Animals: Swiss albino mice (20-30 g) of either sex were purchased from the Animal Research Branch of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease and Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B). The animals were housed under standard laboratory conditions. The animals were fed with laboratory food and water ad libitum. The experiments were done on an isolated and noiseless condition. The ethical clearance of the experiment was taken from the “Internal Ethical Board For Animal Research” of East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Drugs and chemicals: Acetic acid and Carrageenan were obtained from Merck, Germany. Tween-80 was obtained from BDH Chemicals, UK. Normal saline solution was purchased from Beximco Infusion Ltd., Bangladesh. Diclofenac was obtained from Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Bangladesh.
Experimental design: The animals were randomly divided into four groups and each group consisting of six mice. The test groups received ELECA (ethanolic leaf extract of cymbidium aloifolium) at the doses of 200 and 400 mg kg-1 while positive control was treated with Diclofenac Na (10 mg kg-1) and control with vehicle (1% Tween 80 in water).
Procedure
Acetic acid induced writhing test in mice: To evaluate the analgesic
effects of Cymbidium aloifolium, the method described by Dharmasiri
et al. (2003) was used with slight modifications. Four groups of
six mice each received orally normal saline solution (10 mL kg-1)
(i.e., control); Diclofenac (10 mg kg-1) and plant extract (200 and
400 mg kg-1). Forty minutes later, the mice were treated with 0.7%
acetic acid (10 mL kg-1) solution was injected intraperitoneally.
Six minutes after acetic acid injection, mice were placed in individual cage
and the number of writhes (abdominal contractions) was counted for each mouse
for a period of 10 min and the percentage inhibition of writhing was calculated
(Dharmasiri et al., 2003).
Carrageenan-induced paw oedema: The method described by Winter
et al. (1962) was slightly modified and adopted to determine anti-inflammatory
activity in mice. The mice were divided into four groups each containing six
mice each. Acute inflammation was produced by injecting 0.1 μL of carrageenan
(1% w/v suspension which contained Tween 80) into plantar surface of mice hind
paw. The ethanolic leaf extract (200 and 400 mg kg-1), normal saline
(1 mL kg-1) and Diclofenac (10 mg kg-1) as reference agent
were given 1 h before carrageenan injection. The paw volume was measured at
30 min before and 3 h after carrageenan injection using a vernier caliper to
determine the linear diameter of paw oedema. The difference between the readings
at thirty mins before and three hours after the injection of carrageenan was
taken as the thickness of oedema (Winter et al.,
1962). The percent inhibition of the inflammatory reaction was determined
for each animal by comparing with control and calculated by the formula (Kouadio
et al., 2000).
where, dt is the difference in paw volume of the treated group and dc is the difference in paw volume in the control group.
Statistical analysis: The data were expressed as the Mean±SEM (standard error mean). ANOVA (analysis of variance) followed by Dunnett’s ‘t’ test was performed as a post hoc test to evaluate the statistical significance while taking vehicle treated animals as control; p value of p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS
Acetic acid induced writhing test in mice: In acetic acid induced paw writhing test, the results showed that the ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium inhibited the writhing significantly. The extract showed highest effects at dose of 400 mg kg-1 where the inhibition was about 61.31% which were comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac, where the inhibition was about 66.42% at the dose of 10 mg kg-1 of body weight (Table 1).
Carrageenan induced paw oedema: In Carrageenan induced paw oedema test, the results showed that the ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium reduced the paw volume significantly from 1 to 3 h. The extract showed highest effects at the third hour where the inhibition was about 13.33 and 32.82% at dose of 200 and 400 mg kg-1, respectively which were comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac, where the inhibition was about 66.42% at the dose of 10 mg kg-1 of body weight (Table 2).
| Table 1: |
Effect of ethanolic leaf extract of C. aloifolium on
acetic acid induced writhing in mice |
 |
| Values are expressed as Mean±SEM (n = 6); *p<0.05,
Dunnett’s ‘t’ test as compared to control. ELECA: Ethanolic
leaf extract of Cymbidium aloifolium |
| Table 2: |
Effects of the ethanol extract of C. aloifolium leaf
in mice by Carrageenan induced paw oedema test |
 |
| Values are expressed as Mean±SEM (n = 6); *p<0.05,
**p<0.001, Dunnett’s ‘t’ test as compared to control.
ELECA: Ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbidium aloifolium |
DISCUSSION
The ethanol extract was evaluated in the acetic acid-induced writhing test
for its analgesic activity. Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing model represents
pain sensation by releases arachidonic acid via cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin
biosynthesis which plays a role in the nociceptive mechanism (Adedapo
et al., 2009). Prostanoids such as PGE2 and PGF2a
as well as lipoxygenase products have been found at higher level in the peritoneal
fluid after intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid. The analgesic effect occurs
due to its action on visceral receptors that is sensitive to acetic acid by
inhibiting the production of algogenic substances or inhibiting the transmission
of painful messages at the central level (Yerima et al.,
2009). The acetic acid induced writhing response is a sensitive method to
evaluate peripherally acting analgesics. The response is mediated by either
peritoneal mast cells or acid sensing ion channels or the prostaglandin pathways
(Hossain et al., 2009b).
The development of oedema induced by carrageenan test was selected because
of its senstivity in detecting inflammatory agents especially in the acute phase
of inflammation (Adedapo et al., 2009). The probable
mechanism of action is bi-phasic. The first phase involves the release of histamine,
serotonin and kinins in the first hour; while the second phase is responsible
for the release of prostaglandins and lysosome enzymes in 2 to 3 h (Yerima
et al., 2009).
Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects have been found in flavonoids as well
as tannins. Flavonoids such as quercetin are very much effective in acute inflammation
(Yerima et al., 2009). There are also reports
on the role of flavonoid in analgesic activity primarily by targeting prostaglandins.
Tannins are also claimed to possess analgesic activity (Hossain
et al., 2009b). Literature review of the plant reveals that cymbidium
aloifolium contains flavonoids, reducing sugar, cyanogenic glycosides, terpenoids
and tannin (Maridassa et al., 2008). So the results
of this study are indicating that Cymbidium aloifolium can be effective
in pain and acute inflammatory disorders.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the crude ethanol extract of Cymbidium aloifolium exhibited anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. So, further studies are needed to find out the active principles and evaluate these activities by using other models to confirm its pharmacological properties.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are thankful to Dr. Muniruddin Ahmed, Pro-vice Chancellor, East West University; Dr. Chowdhury Faiz Hossain, Dean and Professor, Department of Pharmacy, East West University; Dr. Sufia Islam, Chairperson and Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy, East West University; for their encouragement during the research time.
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