Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Novel Herbal Extract Formulations in Animal Models

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Inflammation and discomfort cause morbidity and lower quality of life in adolescents and adults. Long-term use of traditional NSAIDs and analgesics has side effects, although they are effective. Safety and therapeutic potential make bioactive phytoconstituent-containing herbal medications promising. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of a novel herbal extract formulation composed of standardized extracts of Curcuma longa, Boswellia serrata, and Withania somnifera in experimental animal models.
Methods: The oral herbal suspension was tested in Wistar rats and Swiss albino mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was measured in rats using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, while analgesic activity was measured in mice using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests. The six animals were placed into five groups: normal control, disease control, diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg) or tramadol (20 mg/kg) standard groups, and herbal formulation groups receiving 200 and 400 mg/kg orally. Paw oedema volume, inflammation inhibition %, writhing response, and reaction latency were measured. Statistics were analysed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: The anti-inflammatory effects of the herbal formulation were dose-dependent and statistically significant. In comparison to diclofenac sodium's 73.5 ± 2.9% suppression of paw oedema, the 400 mg/kg dose of carrageenan inhibited it by 67.8 ± 3.4% at 4 hours post-administration (p < 0.001). The formulation provided a 64.5 ± 3.1% inhibition in the acetic acid-induced writhing test, bringing the number of writhes from 48.2 ± 3.6 in the disease control group to 17.1 ± 2.4, compared to 72.4 ± 2.7% inhibition in the tramadol group. At 120 minutes after treatment with the 400 mg/kg formulation, the reaction latency in the hot plate test rose considerably from 4.9 ± 0.5 s in the control group to 11.7 ± 0.8 s (p < 0.001). The investigation did not find any cases of acute poisoning, aberrant behaviour, or fatality.
Conclusion: The innovative formulation of plant extracts showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects that were on par with those of conventional medicinal products. The results provide credence to its promise as a phytotherapeutic option for the treatment of pain and inflammatory disorders. To validate its therapeutic value, additional research including mechanistic studies and clinical trials is required.