Inhibitory Effects of Curcumin, Lawsonia, and Ginger on Kaolin Induced Paw Edema in Rat

Curcumin is a yellow pigment that is extracted from tumeric. Lawsonia (2-hydroxy 1,4 naphtoquinon) is a natural product and is extracted from henna. Ginger is a dried rhizome obtained from a plant called zingiber officinalea, which is extracted from the ginger family. In the present study, the antiinflammatory effects of three chemical agents were evaluated on kaolin induced paw edema and these effects were compared to ibuprofen. This experimental study was performed on adult male rats. Acute inflammatory edema was induced by intraplantar injection of 0.1ml of 4% kaolin. Various concentrations of curcumin 5, 10µmol, lawsonia 20, 40µmol, ginger 5, 20 mg/kg and ibuprofen 12mg/kg were given Sub.cutaneaous. immedately after kaolin injection. Paw edema assessed by calculation of volume changes and by extravasation of Evans blue dye in test group compare to the control, 4 hours after kaolin injection. The results showed that 4% kaolin increased paw volume by 0.36±0.06ml, which was significantly inhibited by curcumin 69.4% at both concenterations (P<0.001). Lawosonia also had significant inhibitory effect on increased paw volume, by 72% and 66% at 20 and 40 µmol respectively (P<0.001). The paw volume was significantly reduced, 38.8%, and 44.8% by ginger at 5 and 20mg/kg respectively (P<0.01). No significant difference were found between inhibitory effects of ibuprofen and curcumin or lawsonia, but the effects of ibuprofen was found to be more than ginger (P<0.05). Kaolin injection also induced 37% increase in Evans blue extravasation, which was reduced only by ginger 30.7% and 33.3% at low and high doses respectively. These data suggest that, curcumin, lawsonia, and ginger can inhibit kaolin-induced inflammatory edema, so that the effects of curcumin and lawsonia are comparable to ibuprofen. Ginger also reduced protein leakage from vessels.