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Background: prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a mediator associated with physiological and pathological conditions. Although it has various physiological roles at normal level, alterations in PGE2 are associated with pathological conditions such as inflammatory diseases. Acronychia pedunculata (“Ankenda” in Sinhala) leaves have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Objective: All our previous findings contributed to solicit the anti-inflammatory activity of this plant. As PGE2 is an inflammatory marker, an attempt was made to evaluate inhibition of PGE2 level by leaf extract of A. pedunculata on adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model, in the present study.
Methods: healthy adult male, Wistar rats (150-200 g) were used for the experiment (n=6/group). The negative and positive control groups were orally administered with 1.0 ml of 0.5 % carboxymethyl cellulose and celecoxib (20 mg/kg b. w.) respectively. The test group received a dose of 200 mg/kg b. w. of 70 % ethanol extract of A. pedunculata leaves (EEAL) which was found to be the most effective dose during the studies on acute anti-inflammatory activity. The oral treatments were started on day 14 of the experiment, continued to day 28.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that the EEAL has PGE2 inhibitory activity which may be contributing to its anti-inflammatory effect. The findings justify the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of various types of inflammation.
