Anti inflammatory and anti arthritic activity of the plant crinum asiaticum

Abstract

Immune system is the complex network inside our body which plays a crucial role in defending against any harmful stimuli or invading pathogens. Immune system works by utilizing two distinct units of immunity i.e. innate immunity and adaptive immunity. The innate immune response works as the immediate line of host defense whereas adaptive immune response takes several days to develop and come into action. Whenever our body encounters the attack of any invading pathogen or harmful stimuli a complex cascade of events occur inside our body which involves the role of various inflammatory cells like neutrophils, macrophages etc. and is termed as the inflammatory response and the process is termed as inflammation. Inflammation is broadly categorised into two forms depending upon the duration and severity i.e. acute inflammation and chronic inflammation. Till date various drugs have been developed for reducing the inflammatory condition generated within body like the conventional NSAIDs, etc. But, these conventional medicines come with their associated side effects hence since ages people have looked forward towards the use of natural phytochemicals for treatment. The knowledge of Ayurveda and the folklore medicines used locally have always been looked for developing new drugs for various diseases. One such commonly used plant in folklore medicine is C. asiaticum. The leaves of the plant is widely used in the northern and north eastern part of India as well as Vietnam for treatment of various inflammatory disorders but no significant scientific study has been conducted till date with this plant for its efficacy in an acuteas well as chronic inflammatory conditions. The present study was undertaken to study the anti-inflammatory property of C. asiaticum in acute inflammation models as well as in arthritis, a chronic inflammation condition developed in rats.