Anti-inflammatory potential of flavonoid fraction of Tamarindus indica Linn (seeds)

The present study was designed to investigate anti-inflammatory potential of flavonoid fraction of Tamarindus indica Linn (seeds) in rodents. The flavonoid fraction was prepared from methanol extract (successive) of T. indica seeds (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) by the method of Shinoda [1]. Anti-inflammatory activity was studied by carrageenan, histamine and serotonin induced rat paw edema [2], prostaglandin inhibitory activity [3], acetic acid induced capillary permeability [4], sodium CMC induced leukocytes emigration [5] and cotton pellets induced granuloma test [6] at the dose levels of 12.5, 25 and 50mg/kg. Indomethacin, aspirin, prednisolone and dexamethasone were used as standard drugs for the respective model. The results were analyzed by One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnet's t-test. Oral administration of flavonoid fraction of T. indica showed, dose dependent inhibition of edema in acute phase of inflammation. It also significantly (p<0.01) inhibited castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Acetic acid induced capillary permeability and total leukocyte count was significantly (p<0.01) inhibited by the flavonoid fraction in a dose dependent manner. The weight of the granuloma formation was significantly (p<0.01) decreased, indicating its effectiveness in the proliferative phase of inflammation. The results obtained suggest the anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoid fraction of T. indica seeds in acute and chronic phase of inflammation.

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3. Awouters, F. et al. (1978)J Pharm Pharmacol. 30 (1): 41–45.

4. Whittle, B. (1964) British J Pharmacol. 22: 246–253.

5. Qin C et al. (2001) Chinese Pharmacol. Bull. 17: 715–716.

6. Winter, A. (1957)J Ameri. Pharmace. Asso. Sci. Ecol. 46: 515–519.