EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF ETHANOLIC LEAF, FLOWER AND SEED EXTRACTS OF LAGERSTROEMIA SPECIOSA (L.) PERS (LYTHRACEAE) AGAINST CARRAGEENAN-INDUCED ACUTE INFLAMMATION IN ALBINO RATS

Lagerstroemia speciosa medicinal properties suggest that it may have anti-inflammatory effects on acute inflammation. The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of L. speciosa ethanolic leaf, flower, and seed extract (LELE, LEFE, and LESE) on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats. This plant is commonly called Pride of India refers to the various parts of this plant, including the leaves, flowers, and seeds, which are used as folk medicine. It has been demonstrated that the phytochemical and anti-inflammatory activities are effective in the treatment of inflammatory conditions in traditional medicine. The qualitative phytochemical investigation of L. speciosa leaf, flower, and seed revealed that it contained steroids, terpenoids, glycosides, polyphenolic compounds, amino acids, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, reducing sugars, tannins, and many other active metabolites. Studies have shown active antiinflammatory ingredients in L. speciosa ethanolic extracts of leaf (LELE), flower (LEFE), and seed (LESE). The ethanolic extracts of L. speciosa (LELE, LEFE and LESE) were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema in albino rats and compared to control and standard drug, Diclofenac injection. The experimental plant extracts were given orally at a concentration of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. before carrageenan injection. In the paw edema evaluation, the paw volume was measured in the early (from 0 min-3 h) and late (4-6 h) phases of edema formation. In acute inflammation paw models, the ethanol extracts significantly reduced paw edema. The result obtained is indicative that the ethanolic extract of leaf and seed with high dose of 500 mg/kg b.w. produced 42% of inhibition and is low as compared to the standard drug. Low dose of ethanolic flower extract of L. speciosa inhibitory is equal to the low dose of seed extract; it is 1% lower than the standard and 2% lower than the control.