In vitro investigation of anti-inflammatory and COX-2 inhibitory potential of flower extracts of Matricaria recutita

Introduction: Matricaria recutita has been traditionally used as a long-term anti-inflammatory herb, thus giving scope for anti-inflammatory studies. The study was conducted to investigate in vitro anti-inflammatory and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activities of dried flower extracts of Matricaria recutita.

Materials and Methods: For the present investigation, various extracts were obtained by successive Soxhlet extraction using solvents with increasing polarity, namely, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous (AE). 300 and 500 µg/ml concentrations of the extracts were used for the study. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity was studied by membrane stabilization of human red blood cells (HRBCs). The percentage of membrane stabilization was compared with standard drug diclofenac sodium at a concentration of 300 and 500 µg/ml. In vitro COX-2 inhibitory activity was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

Results: AE at a concentration of 500 µg/ml showed maximum membrane stabilization of 82.43% and 68.62% of promising COX-2 inhibition in comparative with remaining extracts.

Discussion: The inhibition of membrane stabilization is the measure of anti-inflammatory activity due to analogous nature of lysosomal membrane which releases lysosomal enzymes responsible for inflammation with HRBC membrane. Thus, significant inhibition of HRBC membrane directly correlates the significant anti-inflammatory capacity of the extract. Remarkable inhibition of COX-2 inhibition by EIA states that Matricaria recutita possesses specific COX-2 inhibitory activity.

Conclusion: The results observed thus suggest that the AE of dried flowers of Matricaria recutita possesses promising in vitro anti-inflammatory and significant COX-2 inhibitory potential.

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