Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antinociceptive activities of Russelia coccinea (L.) Wettst.

Some species of the Russelia genus have been used  different illnesses associated with pain and inflammation. The aim of this work was to characterize the biological activities (anti-inflammatory and analgesic) and antioxidant capacity of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of Russelia coccinea.

In this study, topical anti-inflammatory activity was tested in an in vivo model of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) induced mouse ear edema of organic extracts (doses: 0.03, 0.1, and 0.3 mg/ear). The antinociceptive activity was assessed using the formalin test in mice of organic extracts (doses: 56, 100 and 300 mg/kg ). Moreover, the antioxidant capacity of the extracts was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiaziline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays.

Methanol (RcM) and dichloromethane (RcD) extracts of the R. coccinea aerial parts were found to inhibit ear edema (48.95 and 40.13%, respectively) at a dose of 0.3 mg/ear. Acute treatment with RcM produced a significant antinociceptive effect in the late phase of formalin-induced nociception. Moreover, RcM at doses of 56, 100 and 300 mg/kg showed a significant antinociceptive effect through the early and late phases in the formalin test. RcM and RcD showed weak antioxidant capacities in the ABTS and DPPH assays; however, when their reducing capacity was evaluated by the FRAP assay, RcM showed a reducing activity similar to Camellia sinensis standard at the proven concentration of 1000 μg/ml.

According to the experimental findings, the organic extracts of R. coccinea display remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.