Anti-inflammatory Activity of Withania somnifera: Possible Mode of Action

Abstract

Sahni, Y.P. and Srivastava, D.N. 1993. Anti-inflammatory activity of Withania somnifera: Possible mode of action. J. Appl. Anim. Res. 3: 129–136.

Withania somnifera (1000 mg/kg, oral) produced significant anti-inflammatory activity oncarrageenin-inducedpaw oedema, an acute inflammatory process in rats. The anti-inflammatory activity of W. somnifera was at its maximum at 2nd hour of administration and lasted for four hours during the course of observations. The sequential role of inflammatory mediators in anti-inflammatory activity of W. Somnifera is proposed through inhibition of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and prostaglandins as the antagonists of these inflammatory mediators, viz promethazine, cyproheptadine and diclofenac, respectively, significantly potentiated the anti-inflammatory activity of W. somnifera. The time course of release of inflammatory mediators in the anti-inflammatory activity of W. somnifera is further proposed through inhibition of histamine and 5-HT (0–2 hours) in early phase and prostaglandins (2–4 hours) in delayed phase of inflammatory reaction in rats.

Key words:

• Withania somnifera
• anti-inflammatory
• rat