IN-VITRO COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTI-ARTHRITIC EFFECTS OF FLEMINGIA STRICTA ROXB AND NYMPHAEA NOUCHALI LEAF Original Article MD SHAHREAR BIOZID a* , MD MASUDUR RAHMAN a , MOHAMMAD NAZMUL ALAM a , MOHAMMED AKTER SAYEED a , AHMAD IBTEHAZ CHOWDHURY a , MD FARUK a , MD JAINUL ABEDIN a a Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chawkbazar, Chittagong 4203,Bangladesh Email: shahrearbiozid_pharm@yahoo.com Received: 01 May 2015 Revised and Accepted: 15 Jun 2015 ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the comparative study of anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic activity of methanol extract of Flemingia stricta and Nymphaea nouchali leaf. Methods: Human Red Blood Cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization method was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. Anti-denaturation method was performed by using Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) to evaluate the anti-arthritic potential. Results: The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol extracts of Flemingia stricta and Nymphaea nouchali showed 81.85±0.67% (P<0.01) and 85.59±0.58% (P<0.01) of membrane stabilization at 1000µg/ml conc. and 51.85±0.49% (P<0.01) and 70.63±0.50% (P<0.01) at 31.25µg/ml respectively. All the results were compared with standard Diclofenac which showed 93.15±1.03% protection at 1000µg/ml conc. The in vitro study on both leaves also showed the presence of significant anti-arthritic activity. Here the extracts showed 70.43±1.42% (P<0.01) and 83.33±0.54% of protein denaturation at the highest conc. (1000 µg/ml) and 39.25±1.08% (P<0.01) and 38.71±0.93% (P<0.01) at the lowest conc. (31.25µg/ml), in where the standard drug displayed the 86.56±2.15% at 1000ug/ml and 51.08±1.42% at 31.25 µg/ml. Conclusion: These results suggest that both the methanol extract of Flemingia stricta and Nymphaea nouchali possess significant anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. Keywords: Flemingia stricta, Nymphaea nouchali, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-arthritic, HRBC, Protein denaturation. INTRODUCTION Flemingia stricta (Fabaceae) Roxb. is an erect subshrub,distributed in the Southeast Asian country such as-Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand andVietnam [1, 2]. In Bangladesh, it is available in Chittagong, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet. It is known as Charchara (in Bangla) and Krangdunaduepay, Sai Kheu (Marma), Keramkana(Tripura), Tamatamaking (Khumi) and Harsanga, Khaskura, Uskura (Chakma)in local tribes of Chittagong, Bangladesh [3]. Flemingia stricta is used by Chakma healers for treatment of polio. The species is also used to treat rheumatism followed by bone fracture,cough, asthma, goiter, urinary problems, snake bite, insect bite, leprosy, tumor and cancer, caries, hysteria, tuberculosis, insomnia and intestinal worms [4-6]. Nymphaea nouchali (Nymphaceae) is an another important medicinal plant which is also known as water lily, distributed in Bangladesh, Australia, Afghanistan, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Zimbabwe [7, 8]. In Bangladesh, it is known as Sapla, Sada Sapla, and Shaluk. Traditionally it is also known as Bibalchak (Mandi), Gechhak-afluk (Mandi), Aphlak (Garo) in local tribes of Bangladesh [9]. Roots and rhizomes of this plant contain protein, tannic and gallic acids, starch, gum, resin, glucosides and the alkaloids, nupharine and nymphaeine. Leaves contain flavone, glucoside, myricitrin, tannic acid, phytosterin, steroids and flavonoids. Flowers contain a cardiac glycoside, nymphalin having digitalis-like action. Flowers and rhizome also yield two alkaloids, both showing sedative action in small doses [10]. Powdered rhizomes are demulcent and diuretic, used in piles, dysentery and dyspepsia. Flowers are astringent, cardiotonic and refrigerant, alleviative of the cough, bile, vomiting, giddiness, and worms and burning of the skin. Filaments are astringent and cooling, useful in burning of the body, bleeding piles and menorrhagia. Seeds are used as a cooling medicine in cutaneous diseases [11]. Rhizome paste is used for menstruation. The dried rhizome powder is used for dyspepsia (Garo) [12]. Rhizome paste is used to treat menstruation problem (Mandi) [13]. The literature survey revealed that there are no scientific studies carried out regarding the anti- inflammtory, anti-arthritic activity. Thus the experiment was designed to evaluate the comparative in vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic activity of F. Stricta and N. nouchali leaf extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant material F. stricta and N. nouchali leaves were collected from a local area (Bhatiary and Anowara) of Chittagong district. Bangladesh and authenticated by the Botanist Dr. Shaikh Bokhtear Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Preparation of extract The leaves were dried and ground. The ground leaves (300g) were soaked in sufficient amount of methanol for one week at room temperature with occasional shaking and stirring then filtered through a cotton plug followed by Whitman filter paper No. 1. The solvent was evaporated under vacuum at room temperature to yield semisolid. The extract was then preserved in a refrigerator till further use. Chemicals and drugs The chemicals used were Bovine serum albumin (BSA), Diclofenac Sodium, Sodium Dihydrogen phosphate, Disodium hydrogen phosphate, Sodium Chloride, Dextrose, sodium citrate, citric acid, were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. All chemicals in this investigation were of analytical reagent grade. In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity The human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization method The principle concerned in this method is stabilization of human red blood cell membrane by hypotonicity induced membrane lysis. The blood was collected (2 ml) from healthy human volunteer who had International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences ISSN- 0975-1491 Vol 7, Issue 8, 2015 Innovare Academic Sciences