title: Anti-inflammatory effect of O-methylated flavonol 2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-chromen-4-one obtained from Cassia sophera Linn in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cassia sophera Linn (Family Caesalpiniaceae), popularly known as kasundi, is used both in the Indian traditional system and folk medicine to treat several inflammatory pathologies such as asthma, arthritis and pains. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the scientific basis of anti-inflammatory activity of Cassia sophera ethanol extracts and of an isolated constituent of Cassia sophera.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory activity of Cassia sophera was studied using the carrageenan, dextran induced rat paw edema, and cotton pellet induced granuloma in rats. The ethanol extract was administered at the concentrations of 200 and 400mg/kg body weight whereas rhamnetin (RN) was administered at a dose of 10 and 15 mg/kg, b.w. Indomethacin was used as standard drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HPLC analysis revealed that good amounts of rhamnetin (0.18%) was present in Cassia sophera.The ethanol extracts at 400mg/kg, showed maximum inhibition of inflammation induced by carrageenan (44%), dextran (40%), cotton pellets (37.47%). On the other hand rhamnetin (15 mg/kg) exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effect, that is 79 and 33% at the end of 3h with carrageenin, and dextran-induced rat paw edema, respectively. In a chronic test rhamnetin (15 mg/kg) showed 43.32% reduction in granuloma weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The marked inhibitory effect on paw edema and granuloma showed that Cassia sophera possess remarkable anti-inflammatory activity which may be due to rhamnetin at least in part, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory diseases.
authors: Drug Development Diagnostics & Biotechnology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata-700 032, India. arijit_ncp@rediffmail.com
authors: Arijit
authors: A
authors: Mondal
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rajalingam
authors: Tapan
authors: T
authors: Kumar Maity
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D002366:Cassia; D003911:Dextrans; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011794:Quercetin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063423:rhamnetin; D002351:Carrageenan; D011794:Quercetin