IN VITRO EVALUATION OF ANTI INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF VITAMIN C BY MEMBRANE STABILIZING ACTION

OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of vitamin C by membrane stabilization test, an in vitro method using human RBCs.MATERIALS AND METHODS Six ml of blood was collected from two healthy volunteers of same blood group. Six different concentrations (10 microgram,20microgram, 30microgram, 40microgram, 50microgram, 60microgram) of vitamin C were used in this study. Prostaglandin was used to produce lysis of RBC membrane. Assay mixture contained 0.5ml of RBC suspension, 1ml of vitamin C, 1ml of phosphate buffer (PH 7.4), 1ml of prostaglandin (25gml). Normal saline, 1ml was used instead of vitamin C for preparing control solution. The haemoglobin content was estimated using photoelectric colorimeter and the percentage inhibition of haemolysis was also calculated.RESULTS The haemoglobin content of the test samples containing different concentrations of vitamin C was lower than the control sample. Inhibition of heamolysis was seen with all the six concentrations of vitamin C used and the maximum inhibition was seen with 40 microgram dose of vitamin C CONCLUSION Vitamin C has been used in many inflammatory disorders and this study confirms the membrane stabilizing anti-inflammatory activity of vitamin C.