Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Allium ursinum

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate Allium ursinum leaves and flowers extract anti-inflammatory effect. Plant extract 1:1 (w:v) was prepared from A. ursinum leaves by a modified Squibb repercolation method. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated on a rat turpentine oil-induced inflammation (i.m. 6 mL/kg BW). The animals were randomly assigned to nine groups (n=8): negative control, inflammation, A. ursinum flower extract (AUF), A. ursinum leaves extract (AUL), indomethacin (INDO) (20 mg/kg BW), aminoguanidine (AG) (50 mg/kg b.w./d i.p.) as a selective NOS2 inhibitor, NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (NAME) (5 mg/kg b.w./d i.p.) as a nonselective NOS inhibitor, L-arginine (ARG) (100 mg/kg b.w./d i.p.), NO synthesis substrate, and Trolox (20 mg/kg b.w./d i.p) as an antioxidant. At 24h from inflammation induction total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), nitric oxide (NOx) and in vitro phagocytosis test were reduced and the total antioxidative reactivity (TAR) was increased by the testes plant extracts. AUF had a better inhibitory effect than AUL. In conclusion, we provided evidence for the hypothesis that A. ursinum leaves and flowers extract exerts anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the phagocytosis through the reduction of the nitro-oxidative stress.