Full Length Research Paper

Anti-inflammatory activity of Wigandia urens and Acalypha alopecuroides

Miguel A. Zavala-Sánchez*, Cuauhtémoc Pérez-González, Lucina Arias-García and Salud Pérez-Gutiérrez

Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco. Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud C.P. 04960, Coyoacán, México D.F. México.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mzavala@correo.xoc.uam.mx.

Tel: +52 (55) 54 83 70 25. Fax: +52 (55) 54 83 71 48.

Accepted 2 January, 2009

   Abstract

The anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts of Wigandia urens and Acalypha alopecuroides were investigated on carrageenan-induced paw edema at doses of 400 mg/kg. The three extracts of W. urens, and the aqueous extract of A. alopecuroides caused significant inhibition of the edema (58.1±6.5% and 63.5±5.4%, respectively). Indomethacin was used as positive control (8 mg/kg), and inhibited edema by 66.3±5.2%. The methanol extract of W. urens and the aqueous extract of A. alopecuroides, at doses of 200 mg/kg, inhibited pellet implantation-induced granuloma formation by 69.4±6.5 and 70.6±6.6%, respectively. These levels of inhibition are higher than those exhibited by naproxen at doses of 50 mg/kg (46.1±7.1%). Both extracts showed activity on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats, with the best effect being observed after 96 h (82.2±4.6 and 80.6±7.3%, respectively).

Key words:  Wigandia urens, Acalypha alopecuroides, anti-inflammatory activity, plant extracts.