Anti-inflammatory Effect of Basella rubra on Oxazolone-induced Colitis in Rat

A pilot study was conducted to study the phytochemical and antiinflammatory activities of methanol extract of leaves of Basella rubra. Phytochemical studies were carried out to determine the bio active constituents present in the methanol extract of B. rubra. Oxazolone induced inflammation model was used to evaluate the methanolic extract of B. rubra for its anti-inflammatory activity. Treatment of animals with methanol extract of leaves of B. rubra at dose level of 500mg/kg b.w. was performed and found to possess marked activity of cure of inflammation induced by Oxazolone. The changes in body weight, colon structure, histopathological changes and inflammation score were examined between control and treated groups. Rats treated with only Oxazolone showed changes in hematoxylin and eosin sections with wide areas of mucosal necrosis with elongated irregularly branched glands including loss of differentiation (goblet cells). Treatment with methanol extract of leaves of B. rubra significantly recovered in the colon inflammation. The results of our study suggest that methanolic extract of leaves of B. rubra has beneficial effects on the experimental induced inflammation. This reveals that Basella rubra could be serves as a potential anti -inflammatory and chemotherapeutic drug