COX and LOX inhibitory potential of Abroma augusta and Desmodium gangeticum

The present study was aimed to evaluate the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitory activity of Abroma augusta (AA) and Desmodium gangeticum (DG). Initially In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract (AqE) of aerial parts of DG (100 mg/ml) and petroleum ether extract (PEE) of roots of AA (250 mg/ml) was assessed in carrageenan induced paw oedema model in albino wistar rats. In addition, each plant extract was evaluated for COX1, COX-2 and LOX inhibitory activity to determine the possible mechanism of their antiinflammatory activity. The results of the study demonstrated that each plant extract significantly (p<0.0001) reduces the paw volume compared with standard drug Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg b.w.). The percentage inhibitory activity of AqE of DG against COX-2 (IC50=39. 5 μg/ml) were generally higher to that of COX-1 (IC50=49. 5 μg/ml), however, at the same concentrations PEE of AA demonstrated inhibitory activity against COX-1 (IC50=36. 5 μg/ml) to a greater extent than COX-2 (IC50=59 μg/ml). Moderate inhibition of LOX activity was demonstrated by DG (IC50=57.0 μg/ml). AA exhibited weak inhibitory action on LOX activity at the same concentrations (IC50=75.5 μg/ml). The results of the study concluded that anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts could be due to inhibition of COX and LOX enzymes and thus supports the traditional use of the above mentioned plants in inflammatory disorders.