Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Thai medicinal plants in Sahasthara remedy for muscle pain treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Twenty one plants as ingredients of Thai traditional preparation called Sahasthara for relieve muscles pain and distal numbness were studied for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

METHODS

The extracts were obtained by maceration with 95% ethanol. They were tested for their antioxidant activity by DPPH scavenging assay and anti-inflammatory activity by determination of inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cell lines using Griess reagent.

RESULTS

The ethanolic extract of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Gall) showed the highest antioxidant activity (EC50 = 3.34 microg/ml). Its fruit extract also exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, followed by Atractylodes lancea and Baliospermum montanum (IC50 = 3.3, 9.7 and 12.6 microg/ ml, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of these plants correspond with their traditional use for muscle pain and inflammatory-related diseases.