Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory, Antipyretic and Wound Healing Activity of Curcuma Inodora (Zingibaraceae)

Curcuma inodora is small Zingibarous herb and is used by the tribal's as a hair tonic and for cure of wounds. The objective of the present investigation was to study the selected dose of dried methanol extract of rhizomes of Curcuma inodora (200mg/kg i.p.) toward possible antiinflammatory, antipyretic and wound healing potential in experimental animal models. Anti-inflammatory potential of methanol extract was evaluated by carrageenan induced paw oedema and formalin induced paw oedema in rats. Also antipyretic and wound healing activity was also tested on animal models. The studies were conducted on Wistar rats of either sex (160-180 g). The change in oedema volume of the rat hind paw was measured using plethysmometer. The dried methanol extract of curcuma inodora (L.) inhibited the formation of paw oedema to significant levels in rats treated either with carrageenan or formalin. At a dose of 200 mg/kg orally, the dried methanol extract produced 74% inhibition in case of the carrageenan-induced oedema (P<0.01), and there was 79.61% inhibition in formalin-induced oedema (P<0.01).

Dried methanol extract of Curcuma inodora was also evaluated for antipyretic activity on animals as per Vogel's method. Curcuma inodora elicited a dose dependant inhibition of rectal temperature compared with control group. Dried methanol extract of Curcuma inodora produced 38.31 % inhibition at 200 mg/kg dose with a maximal inhibition 44.06 % at same dose which was compared with standard inhibition at 100 mg/kg p.o.

In excision wound model, 10% ointment of ethanol extract of C. inodora was evaluated for wound healing activity. The result showed that ethanol extract ointment possesses a definite pro-healing action. This was demonstrated by a significant increase in the rate of wound contraction and by enhanced epithelialization.

The results indicated that the dried methanol extract of the rhizomes was active against all the experimentally induced laboratory models of inflammation, pyrexia and wound healing.