Evaluation of In vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity of Ethanol and Aqueous Extracts of the Whole Plant of Cardiospermum Halicacabum

Abstract

Presently, synthetic steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat symptoms associated with inflammatory diseases, which can cause severe side effects when used for long-term. Therefore, there is a high demand for novel, potent anti-inflammatory agents with fewer side effects, preferably from plant sources. Cardiospermum halicacabum (Walpenala) has been used to treat inflammatory diseases since ancient times in Ayurvedic medicine. This study was aimed to evaluate in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of extracts of the whole plant of C. halicacabum. The ethanol and aqueous extracts were prepared by the cold maceration method. Both extracts were assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity in vitro by the heat-induced ovalbumin denaturation method using diclofenac sodium as the reference drug. The percentage yield of ethanol and aqueous extracts were 15.7% and 10.4% w/w respectively. The results showed that ethanol and aqueous extract at a concentration range of 0.5 – 16 mg/ml and the reference drug diclofenac sodium at a concentration range of 0.05 – 1.6 mg/ml. The ethanol extract showed a moderate anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 at 5157 μg/mL) and the aqueous extract showed a mild anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 at 8121 μg/mL) with reference to standard diclofenac sodium (IC50 at 1922 μg/mL). Ethanol and aqueous extracts showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) positive correlation between concentration and percentage inhibition of protein denaturation. The present study justifies the possibility of application of C. halicacabum as an anti-inflammatory agent, though further studies are recommended to be continued to confirm the results and isolate the lead chemical constituents.