EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY AND TOTAL TANNIN CONTENT FROM THE LEAVES OF BACOPA MONNIERI (LINN.)

The methanolic leaf extract of Bacopa monnieri Linn. (Family: Scrophulariaceae) was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity, and total tannins content in different in-vivo and in-vitro methods. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied using carrageenan and histamine-induced rat paw edema test at different doses (200 and 400 mg/kg body weight) of the methanol extract. At the dose of 400 mg/kg body weight, the extract showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity both in the carrageenan and histamine-induced oedema test models in rats showing 62.73% and 61.99% reduction in the paw volume comparable (P< 0.01) to that produced by the standard drug indomethacin (67.08% and 70.76%) at 5 h respectively. The percentage inhibition of the oedema paw volume by the 400 mg/kg body weight of the extract was also statistically significant (P< 0.05; P< 0.01) compared favorably with the indomethacin treated animals at 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 h in both models. The total tannins content was calculated high and significant in methanol extract (105.90 mg of tannic acid equivalent per g of dry extract). Acute toxicity test showed that the plant part might be safe for pharmacological uses. Therefore, the obtained results tend to suggest the acute antiinflammatory activity of the methanol extract of Bacopa monnieri leaves and thus provide the scientific basis for the traditional uses of this plant part as a remedy for pain, and inflammations.