In vivo and in vitro pharmacological activity of Aristolochia tagala (syn: Aristolochia acuminata) root extracts

Context: Aristolochia tagala Cham. (syn: Aristolochia acuminata Lam.) (Aristolochiaceae), known as Nallayishwari in Telugu, has been of interest to researchers because of its traditional uses for treating rheumatic pains and fever.

Objective: The anti-inflammatory activity of the petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of A. tagala roots were investigated for the first time.

Materials and Methods: In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory effects were investigated employing the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats and the macrophage cell line RAW264.7 stimulated with proinflammatory stimuli (lipopolysaccharide interferon γ or the calcium ionophore A23187) to determine PGE₂ or LTB₄ release, respectively.

Results: All the extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory effects which were found to be significant (p?<?0.001) at 200 and 400?mg/kg, p.o, in rats tested and the ethyl acetate extract inhibited the induction of PGE₂ with IC₅₀?=?39.1?mg mL^?1 and LTB₄ with IC₅₀?=?29.5?mg mL^?1.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the A. tagala roots have excellent anti-inflammatory activity and validate the traditional indications of this plant in its origin country.