Extract from Libidibia ferrea leaves demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that decrease intra-articular inflammation

Researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and Federal University of Pernambuco studied the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of Libidibia ferrea (L. ferrea). They published their findings in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

• L. ferrea is used in traditional medicine as treatments for illnesses and cancer.
• The researchers used crude aqueous extract of L. ferrea leaves (LfAE) to analyze its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• They determined the polyphenols in the LfAE using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
• They also determined anti-inflammatory activity using an experimental model of zymosan-induced intra-articular inflammation.
• The researchers treated Wistar rats with LfAE at the doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg. Then, they used the synovial membrane of the rats for histological analysis.
• Similarly, a synovial fluid sample was also obtained to test for global leukocyte count, for spectroscopical UV/VIS analysis of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, total glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA), and for quantification of inflammatory cytokines IL1-beta and TNF-alpha by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
• Results showed that LfAE contains 1.56 (0.77) percent m/m ellagic acid and 1.20 (1.38) percent m/m gallic acid.
• LfAE treatment significantly decreased the influx of leukocyte into the synovial fluid and myeloperoxidase activity (p <?0.001). The decrease in both signified neutrophil activity.
• All doses of LfAE treatment reduced levels of MDA but increased the levels of glutathione.
• The concentration of IL-1beta (p <?0.05) and TNF-alpha (p <?0.001) significantly decreased with treatments at 200 and 300 mg/kg.
• The histopathology test proved that treatment of LfAE at 200 mg/kg reduced inflammation.

Based on the results, the researchers concluded that LfAE has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on intra-articular inflammation.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

Journal reference:

Falcão TR, Rodrigues CAO, De Araújo AAD, Caroline Addison Carvalho Xavier De Medeiros, Soares LAL, Ferreira MRA, Vasconcelos RC, De Araújo RF, Lopes MLde S, Guerra GCB. CRUDE EXTRACT FROM LIBIDIBIA FERREA (MART. EX. TUL.) L.P. QUEIROZ LEAVES DECREASED INTRA ARTICULAR INFLAMMATION INDUCED BY ZYMOSAN IN RATS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. April 2019;19(1). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2454-3