Anti-inflammatory and acute toxicity studies of the extracts from the rhizomes of Alpinia galanga Willd.

Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Methanolic and Aqueous methanolic (1:1) extracts of Alpinia galanga Willd. were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced paw edema in Wistar rats, and compared to a positive control drug, Ibuprofen. These extracts were given orally at a concentration of 500 mg/kg b.w. 1 hr before carrageenan injection. Methanolic extract of Alpinia galanga showed maximum inhibition of 79.51 % on carrageenan induced rat paw edema. The effect was significant (p< 0.001) and near to the maximum inhibition of standard Ibuprofen (83.25 %). Petroleum extract, Chloroform extract and Aqueous methanolic extracts produced 28.19, 30.13, 23.34 % of maximum inhibition, which was not significant when compared to the control. The inhibition exhibited by methanolic extract was similar with respect to onset, duration of action as compared to the standard drug Ibuprofen. The study strengthens the claim of anti-inflammatory activity for the plant, the effect of methanolic extract may be due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. The acute toxicity study of the methanolic extract on Wistar male rats exhibited an LD₅₀ value of more than 5000 mg/kg with no behavioural changes.

Author(s): Afzal Unnisa and Thahera D. Parveen

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