This document describes a study evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of the petroleum ether extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant (PCE) in rodents. Acute toxicity studies of PCE were performed according to OECD guidelines and no signs of toxicity were observed up to a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. Rats were treated with PCE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg or indomethacin 10 mg/kg as a standard. Paw volume was measured at intervals over 3 hours and PCE produced a dose-dependent inhibition of paw edema similar to indomethacin

1. _________________________________
* Corresponding author:
V.Sathyanathan
Dept. of Pharmacy,
Arvindaksha Educational Society's group of institution
Balemla (V), Suryapet - 508376,
Nalgonda dist., AP
E-mail address: vsathyanathan22@yahoo.com
Available Online at: www.ijrpp.com
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of
Convolvulus eriocarpus
*1
Sathyanathan.V, 2
Vinoth kumar
*1
Arvindaksha Educational Society's group of institution
2
Seven Hills college of Pharmacy, Tirupati
3,4,5
Smt.Sarojini Rammulamma College of P
__________________________________________
ABSTRACT
Convolvulus eriocarpus (Family:Convolvulaceae
indigenous system of medicine. The present investigation was carried o
Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus (PCE)
toxicity studies were performed as per OECD
Anti-inflammatory activity was established by carrageenan induced paw edema at the dose of PCE 200 and 400
mg/kg. Hence, present investigation established some pharmacolog
that Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant is
KEYWORDS: Convolvulus eriocarpus,
edema.
_____________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION
Drugs which are in use presently for the
management of pain and inflammatory conditions
are either narcotics, e.g. opioids or non
e.g. salicylates or corticosteroids
hydrocortisone. All of these drugs possess well
known side and toxic effects. On the contrary,
many medicines of plant origin have been used
since long time without any adverse effects.
Exploring the healing power of plants is an ancient
concept. For centuries, people have been trying to
alleviate and treat disease with different plant
extracts and formulations [1]. It is therefore,
essential that efforts should be made to introduce
new medicinal plants to develop cheaper drugs.
Plants represent still a large untapped source of
_________________________________
Society's group of institution
vsathyanathan22@yahoo.com
Available Online at: www.ijrpp.com Print ISSN: 2278 - 2648
Online ISSN: 2278 - 2656
(Research article)
inflammatory activity of Petroleum Ether Extract of
Convolvulus eriocarpus in rodents
kumar.K, 3
Gayasuddin Mouid Md,4
Md Parvez, 5
Sivalingam
Arvindaksha Educational Society's group of institution, Balemla (V), Suryapet, A.P.
, Tirupati, A.P.
Sarojini Rammulamma College of Pharmacy, Mahabubnagar, A.P.
_________________________________________________________________
Convolvulaceae) has been widely used for its reported biological activities in
indigenous system of medicine. The present investigation was carried out to find the effect of
(PCE) whole plant for its anti-inflammatory activity in rodents.
performed as per OECD-423 guidelines. Toxicity signs and symptoms were not observed.
inflammatory activity was established by carrageenan induced paw edema at the dose of PCE 200 and 400
Hence, present investigation established some pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim
plant is used as an anti-inflammatory.
Convolvulus eriocarpus, anti-inflammatory, Petroleum Ether Extract, carrageenan induced paw
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Drugs which are in use presently for the
management of pain and inflammatory conditions
are either narcotics, e.g. opioids or non-narcotics,
salicylates or corticosteroids e.g.
hydrocortisone. All of these drugs possess well
known side and toxic effects. On the contrary,
many medicines of plant origin have been used
ut any adverse effects.
Exploring the healing power of plants is an ancient
concept. For centuries, people have been trying to
alleviate and treat disease with different plant
extracts and formulations [1]. It is therefore,
made to introduce
new medicinal plants to develop cheaper drugs.
Plants represent still a large untapped source of
structurally novel compounds that might serve as
lead for the development of novel drugs [2].
Screening of the plants for their biological
is done based on their chemotaxonomic
investigation or ethno botanical knowledge for a
particular disease. Identification of a particular
compound against a specific disease is a
challenging long process. Importance of the plant
lies in their biologically active principles.
Convolvulus eriocarpus (Family:Convolvulaceae
often called annual morning glories, are summer
annual or perennial broadleaf plants.
eriocarpus are often cultivated as ornamentals,
however, under favorable condition
become troublesome weeds. Seeds germinate down
to a depth of 4 inches (10 cms) or more, much
deeper than most annuals. The whole plant of
Convolvulus eriocarpusis is used for ulcer, fever
and rheumatism [3]. As there is no reference in
International Journal of
Research in Pharmacology and
Pharmacotherapeutics
89
(Research article)
Petroleum Ether Extract of
Sivalingam
_______________________________
has been widely used for its reported biological activities in
Petroleum Ether
inflammatory activity in rodents. Acute
423 guidelines. Toxicity signs and symptoms were not observed.
inflammatory activity was established by carrageenan induced paw edema at the dose of PCE 200 and 400
ical evidence to support the folklore claim
Petroleum Ether Extract, carrageenan induced paw
_______________________
structurally novel compounds that might serve as
lead for the development of novel drugs [2].
Screening of the plants for their biological activity
is done based on their chemotaxonomic
investigation or ethno botanical knowledge for a
particular disease. Identification of a particular
compound against a specific disease is a
challenging long process. Importance of the plant
logically active principles.
Convolvulaceae)
often called annual morning glories, are summer
annual or perennial broadleaf plants. Convolvulus
are often cultivated as ornamentals,
however, under favorable conditions, they can
become troublesome weeds. Seeds germinate down
to a depth of 4 inches (10 cms) or more, much
deeper than most annuals. The whole plant of
used for ulcer, fever
and rheumatism [3]. As there is no reference in
Journal of
Research in Pharmacology and
Pharmacotherapeutics

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V.Sathyanathan et al / Int. J. of Res. in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics Vol-1(2) 2012 [89-92]
www.ijrpp.com
literature to the anti-inflammatory aspects, it was
considered worthwhile to study the anti-
inflammatory activity of Petroleum Ether Extract
of Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant (PCE) in
rodents.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Collection of plant material
The whole plant of Convolvulus eriocarpus was
collected from Tirunelveli District, Tamilnadu,
India. The plant was authenticated by
Dr.V.Chelladurai, Research Officer, Botany,
C.C.R.A.S., Govt. of India. A voucher specimen
has been kept in our laboratory for future reference.
Preparation of plant extract
The collected whole plant was dried at room
temperature, pulverized by a mechanical grinder,
sieved through 40mesh. About 100g of powder
were extracted with petroleum ether (60°-80°C)
using soxhlet apparatus. The extraction was carried
out until the extractive becomes colourless. The
extract is then concentrated and dried under
reduced pressure. The solvent free semisolid mass
thus obtained is dissolved in tween 80 and used for
the experiment. The percentage yield of prepared
extract was around 10.75%w/w.
Animals used
Albino rats (200–250gm) of either sex were
maintained in a 12 hr light/dark cycle at a constant
temperature 25◦
C with free access to feed (Saidurga
feeds and foods, Bangalore) and water. All animals
were fasted prior to all assays and were allocated to
different experimental groups each of 6 rats.
Moreover, the animals were kept in specially
constructed cages to prevent coprophagia during
the experiment. All experiments were carried out
according to the guidelines for care and use of
experimental animals and approved by Committee
for Control and Supervision of Experiments on
Animals (CPCSEA). Ethical committee clearance
was obtained from IAEC (Institutional Animal
Ethics Committee) of CPCSEA.
Acute toxicity study
The procedure was followed according to the
OECD guidelines 423 (Acute toxic class method).
The acute toxic class method is a step wise
procedure with 3 animals of single sex per group.
Depending on the mortality and / or moribund
status of the animals, on an average 2-4 steps may
be necessary to allow judgement on the acute
toxicity of the testing substance. According to this
procedure, minimum numbers of animals were to
be used for the acceptable data band scientific
conclusion. The method uses defined doses (5, 50,
300, 2000 mg/kg body weight) and the results
allow a substance to be ranked and classified
according to the globally harmonized system
(GHS) for the classification of chemical, which
causes acute toxicity.
Adult male and female wistar rats were used for
this study. The starting dose of whole plant of
Convolvulus eriocarpus extract was 2000 mg/kg
body weight, as most of the crude extracts possess
LD50 value more than 2000 mg/kg body weight.
The dose was administered to the overnight fasted
rats and food was withheld for a further 3-4 hours
after administration of the drug and observed for
signs of toxicity. The onset of toxicity was also
noted. The animals were kept under observation for
14 days. Hence, 1/10th
(200mg/kg) and 1/5th
(400mg/kg) of this dose was selected for further
study [4].
Anti- inflammatory activity
Carrageenan induced rat paw edema
The animals were divided into 4 groups each group
contained 6 animals. Animals were weighed and
marked for identification. All the groups were
treated with extract, and standard drugs used for the
study. After 30 minutes of the treatment, 0. 1 ml of
1% carrageenan in saline was injected into the sub
plantar region of the left hind paw of each rat to
induce edema [5].
Group I: Control group received normal saline.
Group II: PCE-200mg/kg.
Group III: PCE-400mg/kg.
Group IV: Standard-Indomethacin-10mg/kg.
The paw volume was measured initially and at
intervals of 30, 60, 120, 180 minutes after
carrageenan injection by volume displacement
method using Plethysmometer by immersing the
paw in mercury cell. The percentage inhibition of
paw volume in drug treated group was compared
with the control.
The percentage inhibition of paw edema was
calculated by using the following formula:
% of edema inhibition = [(Vc- Vt) /Vc] × 100

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Vc- Volume of edema in control group
Vt- volume of edema in treated group
Statistical analysis
The data were statistically analysed using one-way
ANOVA followed by Newman's levels multiple
range test for individual comparison of groups with
control. ‘P’ values below 0.05 were considered as
significant. Here all values of statistical analysis
are expressed as mean ± SEM.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
The plant extract did not exhibit any mortality up to
the dose level 2000mg/kg. The Petroleum Ether
Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant
(PCE) was evaluated for anti-inflammatory
activity. Inspite of tremendous development in the
field of synthetic drugs during recent era, they are
found to have some or other side effects, whereas
plants still hold their own unique place, by the way,
of having no side effects. Therefore, a systematic
approach should be made to find out the efficacy of
plants against inflammation to exploit them as
herbal anti-inflammatory agents. The PCE
exhibited significant anti-inflammatory at the doses
of 200, 400mg/kg. The PCE showed 27.45%
inhibition at the dose of 200mg/kg and 41.17%
inhibition at the dose of 400mg/kg 3hr after the
drug treatment in carrageenan induced paw edema,
whereas the standard drug showed 43.14% of
inhibition.
The enzyme, phospholipase A2, is known to be
responsible for the formation of mediators of
inflammation such as prostaglandins and
leukotrienes which by attracting polymorpho
nuclear leucocytes to the site of inflammation
would lead to tissue damage probably by the
release of free radicals. Phospholipase A2 converts
phospholipids in the cell membrane into
arachidonic acid, which is highly reactive and is
rapidly metabolized by cyclooxygenase
(prostaglandin synthesis) to prostaglandins, which
are major components that induce pain and
inflammation [6,7]. It is well known that
carrageenan induced paw edema is characterized by
biphasic event with involvement of different
inflammatory mediators. In the first phase (during
the first 2 hr after carrageenan injection), chemical
mediators such as histamine and serotonin play
role, while in second phase (3–4 hr after
carrageenan injection) Kinin and prostaglandins are
involved [8].
Our results revealed that administration of
Petroleum Ether Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus
whole plant (PCE) inhibited the edema starting
from the first hour and during all phases of
inflammation, which is probably inhibition of
different aspects and chemical mediators of
inflammation.
Table: 1 Effect of the Petroleum Ether Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant on
carrageenan induced paw edema
n = 6 in each group,
*
P < 0.05;
**
P < 0.01 compared to normal control
Treatment
Dose
(mg/kg)
Paw edema volume (ml) Percentage of
inhibition0min 30min 60min 120min 180min
Control
Normal
saline
0.30±0.02 0.33±0.02 0.38±0.04 0.42±0.02 0.51±0.02 _
PCE 200 0.31±0.04 0.34±0.01 0.36±0.01 0.34±0.00* 0.37±0.01** 27.45
PCE 400 0.30±0.01 0.32±0.01 0.35±0.01 0.32±0.01** 0.30±0.01** 41.17
Indomethacin 10 0.30±0.04 0.32±0.02 0.34±0.01 0.32±0.01** 0.29±0.01** 43.14

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CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the results of the present study
support to the traditional use of Convolvulus
eriocarpus whole plant in anti-inflammatory
activity. This study established anti-inflammatory
activity of the Petroleum Ether Extract of
Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant (PCE). Acute
oral toxicity studies were performed, and mortality
was not observed up to 2000mg/kg. PCE exhibited
significant anti-inflammatory activity at the doses
of 200 and 400mg/kg. The results produced by
Petroleum Ether Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus
whole plant (PCE) were comparable with that of
standard Indomethacin. The activities may be due
to the presence of steroids in the Petroleum Ether
Extract of Convolvulus eriocarpus whole plant
(PCE).
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