The anti-inflammatory activity of garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum) on egg albumin-induced oedema and granuloma tissue formation in rats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the possible anti-inflammatory effect of garden egg [Solanum aethiopicum (S. aethiopicum)] using experimentally induced inflammatory models in rats. METHODS Oedema was induced on the rat hind paw by the injection of 0.1 mL undiluted fresh egg albumin (philogistic agent) into the subplantar surface of the rat paw. Tissue granuloma was induced in the rats by the implantation of two autoclaved cotton pellets (30 mg) under the flank of previously shaved back of anaesthetised rats. Garden egg extract doses were administered to the rats for seven consecutive days. On day 8, the animals were killed and the pellets surrounded by granuloma tissue were dissected out and dried. RESULTS Extracts of garden egg significantly (P<0.05) reduced the fresh egg albumin-induced rat paw oedema and also significantly (P<0.05) reduced the granuloma tissue formation in the treated groups when compared to the control. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that the fruits of garden egg (S. aethiopicum) have anti-inflammatory activity in the models studied.