ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF SEEDS OF TAMARINDUS INDICA IN WISTAR RATS

Tamarindus indica L. is highly valued in Indian medicine for management of painful inflammation, diabetes and constipation. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated using carrageenan induced rat paw edema model. The coarse seed powder was extracted with distilled water, ethyl acetate and methanol and submitted to chemical tests which revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds and steroids. All the three extracts i.e. aqueous, ethyl acetate and methanolic extract of Tamarindus indica seeds at 500 mg/kg showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in the second phase of inflammation. For comparison purpose, we used indomethacin (10 mg/kg) as a reference drug. The results showed that methanolic extract exhibited more promising anti-inflammatory activity compared to aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts.