Investigation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of leaves of Dalbergia paniculata (Roxb).

OBJECTIVE To investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of orally administered methanolic leaf extract of Dalbergia paniculata (D. paniculata) in Carrageenan induced inflammation in rats. METHODS In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated for superoxide radical, Hydroxyl radical and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Three doses 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of D. paniculata were tested for anti-inflammatory activity in Carrageenan induced rat paw edema model and paw thickness was measured every one hour up to 6 h. RESULTS The methanolic leaf extract of D. paniculata produced dose dependent inhibition of Superoxide radical, Hydroxyl radical and DPPH radicals. In Carrageenan induced inflammation model, all three doses produced significant percentage inhibition of rat paw edema and 800 mg/kg dose produced maximum percent inhibition of rat paw edema (47.83%) at 3h compared to control group. CONCLUSIONS In the present study we found that methanolic leaf extract of D. paniculata showed good in vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in rats.