Anti-inflammatory effect of Stereospermum suaveolens ethanol extract in rats

Indian Medicinal Plants and Formulations and Their Potential Against COVID-19-Preclinical and Clinical Research

The cases of COVID-19 are still increasing day-by-day worldwide, even after a year of its first occurrence in Wuhan city of China. The spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection is very fast and different from other SARS-CoV infections possibly due to structural differences in S proteins. The patients with severe diseases may die due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by systemic inflammatory reactions due to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by the immune effector cells. In India too, it is spreading very rapidly, although the case fatality rate is below 1.50% (https://www.statista.com), which is markedly less than in other countries, despite the dense population and minimal health infrastructure in rural areas. This may be due to the routine use of many immunomodulator medicinal plants and traditional AYUSH formulations by the Indian people. This communication reviews the AYUSH recommended formulations and their ingredients, routinely used medicinal plants and formulations by Indian population as well as other promising Indian medicinal plants, which can be tested against COVID-19. Special emphasis is placed on Indian medicinal plants reported for antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-allergic/anti-inflammatory activities and they are categorized for prioritization in research on the basis of earlier reports. The traditional AYUSH medicines currently under clinical trials against COVID-19 are also discussed as well as furtherance of pre-clinical and clinical testing of the potential traditional medicines against COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2. The results of the clinical studies on AYUSH drugs will guide the policymakers from the AYUSH systems of medicines to maneuver their policies for public health, provide information to the global scientific community and could form a platform for collaborative studies at national and global levels. It is thereby suggested that promising AYUSH formulations and Indian medicinal plants must be investigated on a priority basis to solve the current crisis.

Attenuation of adjuvant-induced arthrits by Stereospermum colais and Stereospermum suaveolens via modulation of inflammatory mediators

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plants selected for this study, Stereospermum colais and Stereospermum suaveolens are named as Patala in Ayurvedic medicine. Patala is a component of the reputed dasamula (ten roots) used for various imperative Ayurvedic formulations. The roots of Patala have rich traditional value especially in the treatment of inflammation and rheumatism. Nevertheless no methodical study has been consummated in these plants. Consequently, an endeavor to ascertain the anti-arthritic potential of the two plants was made besides to impart the fact with regards to the supreme one.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study is to evaluate the anti-arthritic potential of Stereospermum colais and Stereospermum suaveolens using Complete Freund's Adjuvant induced arthritic model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The freshly collected root material of Stereospermum colais (SC) and Stereospermum suaveolens (SS) were successively extracted with solvents such as petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol by cold maceration and the ethanolic extract of Stereospermum colais (EESC) and Stereospermum suaveolens (EESS) were standardized using lapachol as standard. The extracts were further subjected to acute oral toxicity and in vivo anti-arthritic evaluation by Complete Freund's Adjuvant induced arthritic model using methotrexate as standard. Body weight changes, reduction in paw volume, biochemical, histopathological and the expression of Cluster of differentiation 4 cells, inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor necrosis factor-α, Interleukin-2 and Tranforming growth factor-β through immunohistochemical analysis were studied to access the anti-arthritic potential.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

s: The Extracts EESC and EESC were standardized using lapachol by HPLC method and the amount was found to 3.9% w/w and 0.9% w/w respectively. The LD₅₀ of the tested extracts EESC and EESS were found to be greater than 2000 mg/kg b.w through acute oral toxicity study. The extracts EESC (58.97%) and EESS (20.51%) were significantly reduced the paw volume in a dose dependent manner. The reduction in the paw volume exhibited the anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanolic extract of both the plants. The extracts at the dose of 400 mg/kg has markedly inhibited the change in joint architecture as compared to arthritic control. Also the study revealed that the extracts may possibly act by affecting the T cell mediated inflammatory process which was evident by decreased expression of Cluster of Differentiation 4 cells, Interleukin-2 and Tumor necrosis factor-α. The Extracts were found to have rich phytochemicals such as terpenoids, flavonoids, quinones, phenols and tannins may probably attribute to the anti-arthritic property of the plants. The lapachol a naphthaquinone present in both the extracts also contributed for its property. The study concludes that ethanolic extract of both the plants (EESC and EESS) exhibited significant anti-arthritic activity and Stereospermum colais was found to be more potent than Stereospermum suaveolens which corroborates the traditional use of roots of Stereospermum colais and Stereospermum suaveolens in the treatment of arthritis.