Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Methanol Extract of Coccinia Indica (Cucurbitaceae) Fruit

The study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of methanol extract of fruit of Coccinia indica (cucurbitaceae) (MECI) was evaluated against several models of inflammation in rats. Inflammation was induced by subplanter injection into right hind paws of rats by injecting 1%w/v of carrageenan, histamine and dextran solution individually in each groups and antiinflammatory action of methanolic extract of the fruits of Coccinia indica (MECI) (100, 150 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) was evaluated and compared with standard drug indomethacine (20mg/kg,p.o). The rats were also implanted with cotton pellet and granuloma formation was compared of methanolic extract of the fruits of Coccinia indica (MECI) against diclofenac sodium. (10 mg/kg, p.o.) The extract showed 44.66%, 26.81% and 32.74% inhibition at the dose level of 200 mg/kg, p.o. for carageenan, histamine and dextran induced paw oedema respectively; when compared to that of control group. The effect was comparable with that of the standard drug indomethacin (20 mg/kg, p.o.). The extract also has effectively and significantly reduced the cotton pellet induced granuloma in rats. The percentage inhibition was 59.05% at the dose level of 200 mg/kg, p.o. From the present research work it was concluded that methanol extract of fruit of Coccinia indica (cucurbitaceae) (MECI) has shown significant activity which may be due to some short of phytochemicals such as tannins, saponins, reducing sugars and triterpenoids. and compared with Dexamethasone as standard drug.