Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Cymbopogon citratus In vivo-Polyphenols Contribution

Abstract

Cymbopogon citratus is one of the most common herbs used in folk medicine due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Taking into account these properties showed on in vitro assays, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of C. citratus leaves infusion (CcE) and its flavonoid-rich (CcF) and tannin-rich (CcT) fractions. The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity was performed in the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. Both central and peripheral analgesic activities were evaluated in mice through the hot plate test and the acetic acid-induced writhing test, respectively. In the acute inflammation model, the statistically significant results obtained in percentage of oedema inhibition were 70.80 and 82.30% for CcE (34.12 and 68.24 mg kg , respectively), 59.00% for CcF 1 1 1 1 (7.42 mg kg ), 61.00% for CcT (5.96 mg kg ) and 84.00% for positive control group (10 mg kg ). For the peripheral pain evaluation, statistically significant results showed a pain 1 1 1 reduction of 57.00% for CcE (136.48 mg kg ), 54.60% for CcF (14.8 mg kg ), 52.20% for CcT (11.92 mg kg ) and 83.00% for positive control group. This study demonstrates that C. citratus infusion compounds are able to reduce inflammation and peripheral pain in vivo, with polyphenols showing a significant contribution for these activities.