Antiinflammatory effects of Moringa oleifera root extract

A crude methanol extract of the root of the plant Moringa oleifera Lam. was screened for anti inflammatory effect using the rat paw edema and the rat 6-day air pouch inflammatory models. Following oral administration, the extract inhibited carrageenan-induced rat paw edema in a dose-dependent manner, with 50% inhibitory concentration - IC50 (dose producing 50% inhibition) of 660 mg/kg. On the 6-day air pouch acute inflammation induced with carrageenan, the extract was much more potent, with IC50 values of 302.0 mg/kg and 315.5 mg/kg, for the inhibition of cellular accumulation and fluid exudation, respectively. Maximum inhibition obtained with 600 mg/kg were 83.8% and 80.0%, respectively. When delayed (chronic) inflammation was induced in the 6-day air pouch model using Freund's complete adjuvant, the extract was still effective though less than in acute inflammation. In contrast, a moderate dose of indomethacin (5 mg/kg) inhibited the acute, but not the delayed form of air pouch inflammation. Acute toxicity tests in mice suggest very low toxicity. These results suggest that the root of Moringa oleifera contains anti inflammatory principle(s) that may be useful in the treatment of both the acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.