Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing property of aqueous leaf extract of Momordica charantia in rats

Abstract

This study reports the anti-inflammatory and membrane-stabilizingproperty of an aqueous extract of Mormodica charantia (MC) leaves inrats. The carregeenin-induced rat paw oedema was utilized as the modelfor acute inflammation, whilst formaldedyde-induced rat paw oedema wasused as the model for sub-chronic inflammatory states. The probablemode by which MC mediates its effects on inflammatory conditions wasstudied on rat blood cells (RBC) exposed to hypotonic solution. The resultsof the study revealed that the extract possesses anti-inflammatoryproperty. MC was found to significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the oedemaswellings induced by the phlogistic agents in rats in a dose-relatedmanner. However, the extract did not exhibit membrane-stabilizingproperty, as it failed to significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the levels ofhaemolysis of RBC exposed to hypotonic solution. The acute toxicitystudies of oral doses of aqueous extract of Momordica charantia leaf inmice revealed that it has a high safety profile, as the extract was welltolerated by the animals. The results of the study suggest that the antiinflammatory activity demonstrated by Momordica charantia leaf may not be related to membrane-stabilization. (Afr. J. Biomed. Res. 9:119 - 124 , May 2006)Keywords: Momordica charantia, anti-inflammatory, membrane-stabilizing property