Attached
Introduction and Objectives: Adverse effects of existing allopathic anti-inflammatory drugs
warrant the search for alternative therapeutics. Consequently, the investigations of the
efficacy of plant based drugs used in traditional medicine attract attention. According to
World Health Organization (WHO), about 80% of the world population still relies mainly on
plant based drugs. Psychotria sarmentosa Blume (Rubiaceae), “Gonica” in Sinhala, is a
small shrub of which aqueous extract of fresh leaves are used in folk medicine for individuals
who have been physically assaulted. This indicates that it may possess potent
analgesic/anti-inflammatory activity. Only a very few scientific studies have been carried out
to investigate the claimed activities of these leaves. Hence, in the present study an attempt
has been made to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of P.
sarmentosa leaves (AEPSL) on both acute and chronic inflammation models. The protocol
was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the Faculty of Medical Sciences,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka(No.30/14,35/15).
Methodology: Carrageenan and formaldehyde induced rat paw oedema models were used
to evaluate the acute and chronic anti-inflammatory effects respectively. Prior to one hour of
induction of oedema, doses of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg each of AEPSL were orally
administered to male Wistar rats (n=6/group) in comparison with distilled water and
indomethacin (5 mg/kg) which served as the negative and positive controls respectively. Paw
volumes were measured hourly for 5 consecutive hours in carrageenan induced models, and
daily for 7 consecutive days in formaldehyde induced model. Data analysis was carried out
using one-way analysis variance (ANOVA). Results with p< 0.05 were considered as
statistically significant.
Results and Discussion: The results showed that the treatment with 100, 150 and 200
