Phraepakaporn Kunnaja
1,2*, Somsakul Pop Wongpalee
1, Ampai Panthong
11 Department of Pharmacology and Center for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2 Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Abstract
Introduction: Murdannia loriformis
(hassk) Rolla Roa et Kammathy, family Commelinaceae, is used by Chinese
practitioners as a remedy for cancer in an early stage, and also for
treating other diseases including colds, throat infections, pneumonia,
diabetes mellitus, flu and inflammation. Although anticancer as well as
other pharmacological effects of M. loriformis have been reported, its anti-inflammatory and other activities related to inflammation are still limited.
Methods:
The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan- and
arachidonic acid-induced paw edema in rats, and cotton pelletinduced
granuloma formation in rats. The analgesic and antipyretic activities
were determined by formalin test in mice and yeast-induced hyperthermia
in rats, respectively.
Results: The ethanol extract of the aerial part of M. loriformis
exhibited anti-inflammatory activity on the rat paw edema induced by
carrageenan and arachidonic acid. It also showed an inhibitory effect on
the granuloma and the transudative formation of the rat implanted with
cotton pellets as well as lowered the elevated serum alkaline
phosphatase activity to normal level. It exerted potent analgesic effect
on both the early and late phase of formalin test as well as the
antipyretic effect on yeast-induced hyperthermic rats. The oral single
high dose of the extract of 5,000 mg/Kg did not produce death or any
abnormalities or changes of the internal organs of rats during 14 days
of the observed period.
Conclusion: The results obtained from this study support the use of the plant in traditional medicine for inflammatory ailments