EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF ACACIA EHRENBERGIANA (SALAM) LEAVES BY IN-VIVO AND IN- VITRO MODELS

The aim of this research is to study the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of the leaves of Acacia eherbengiana (Hayne), using carrageenan induced paw edema model in rats, albumin denaturation and heat induced hemolysis. Methods: a total of twelve animals of both sexes weighing (60 - 130 g) were randomly divided into three groups consisting of 4 animals each. Group I served as control and receive distilled water, while group II and III received the ethanolic extract of Acacia eherbengiana (300 mgkg body weight) and diclofenac sodium (20mgkg) respectively. Inflammation was induced by injecting carrageenan (1% wv) in the sub-plantar tissues of the rat hind paw. In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract was evaluated by inhibition of protein denaturation and human RBCs membrane stabilization methods at 250, 500, 750 and 1000 ?g/ml. Results: the ethanolic extract of Acacia eherbengiana (300 mgkg body weight) produced 40% inhibition of paw edema volume while diclofenac sodium produced 40.6% inhibition. The percent of membrane stabilization of Acacia eherbengiana was found to be 57.9% while for diclofenac sodium was 55.8% and that of protein denaturation was found to be 84.6%, 42.8% for Acacia eherbengiana and diclofenac sodium respectively Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of the Acacia Eherbengiana exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity which was found to be time dependent. Keywords: Acacia eherbengiana , anti-inflammatory, carrageenan, albumin denaturation, heat induced hemolysis.