Abstract

EFFECT OF CURCUMA NEILGHERRENSIS WT. RHIZOME CRUDE EXTRACTS ON ANALGESIC AND ARTHRITIS INDUCED RATS

Yasodamma N* and Chaithra D

ABSTRACT

Zingiberaceae members are well known medicinal herbs in all systems of traditional medicine. Turmeric is one of the important ingredient in cultural, medicinal and in industrial use especially in India. Mainly Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is a major spice in every dish of Indian food. Apart from culinary uses its medicinal significance as antibiotic, antipyretic against cold and cough, antiarthritic and antidiarrhoeal and also as antidiabetic. Wild turmeric C. neilgherrensis was distributed along the Seshachalam hill regions of Tirumala, Kadapa and in Nellore districts. Many tribes like Yanadi, Erukula, Nakkala and Irula tribes were habituated along these hill regions. The significant traditional medicinal uses of C.neilgherrensis (wild Curcuma) rhizome, root and leaf extracts were tested scientifically and proved its antimicrobial, phytochemical, antidiarrhoeal, antidiabetic, antiulcer, anthelmintic and anti-inflammatory activities. Arthritic problems are one among the major health disorders proven to be multiple reasons and living styles all over the globe. Majority of the chemical drugs are only suppressants than the curative effect. Hence search for alternate source leads for the natural plant based drugs. Rhizome extracts of C.neilgherrensis were tested against acetic acid induced analgesic rats with aqueous and methanol extracts between 100-1000 gms/kg b.wt and found effective in reducing the mean writhing effects and inhibition percentage at 500 mg by 9.1 with 76.24% which is almost equal to the Diazepam treated rats showing 8 number of writhings with 79.11% inhibition of analgesic effect. Hence rhizome extracts also screened and found as effective against CFA induced arthritic rats with aqueous and methanol extracts at 500 mg/kg b.wt and observed the reduction in the volume of rat hind paw to that of normal rats and standard drug Diclofenac treated rats than the CFA induced arthritic rats. And also there is no any negative effect on the body weight loss or gain than the normal rats. It also proved in maintaining the haematological and biochemical parameters which were affected in the arthritis rats also observed in the radiological studies in the protection and prevention of inflammation. The same was observed with the rhizome extracts of Alpinia galanga, C.longa, C.zedoaria and with Zingiber officinale. Hence C.neilgherrensis rhizome crude extracts may be recommended as analgesic and anti-arthritic drug to that of the other Zingeberaceae species and also the isolated curcuminoids and essential oils.

Keywords: Wild turmeric, acetic acid induced, CFA induced, haematological, biochemical, radiological, diclofenac.