Ipomoea carnea Jacq. ameliorates formalin-induced paw inflammation in rats through modulation of oxidative and inflammatory pathways.

Ipomoea carnea Jacq. (I. carnea) belongs to Convolvulaceae family, that is being for the management of pain and inflammation. Since long current research was conducted to study anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous methanolic extract of Ipomoea carnea (ICE). Preliminary proximate study and HPLC were carried out for the phytochemical characterization. The safety of ICE was ensured by acute oral toxicity study. In vitro anti-inflammatory potential of ICE was evaluated using BSA denaturation methods and egg albumin. In vivo inflamed paw rat model using formalin was done at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg. Diameter of the Paw, weight changes in the body, and biochemical and hematological markers were quantified. By means of ELISA IL-6, PGE-2, TNF-α, HSP-70, SOD, CAT, and MDA levels were measured. The mRNA expression of different inflammatory genes was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Effects of ICE were noted by histological and radiological findings. Phytochemistry of ICE identified the presence of different secondary metabolic constituents and HPLC identified the various phenolic compounds in the extract. Acute oral toxicity results showed that LD₅₀ of the plant was greater than 2000 mg/kg. ICE demonstrated significant inhibition of egg albumin denaturation and protein denaturation in BSA. In vivo formalin-induced paw inflammation model demonstrated that ICE substantially decreased the severity of inflammation, in a dose-dependent manner. Hematological and biochemical parameters were improved and histological examination revealed reduction in paw inflammation, pannus formation, and bone degradation dose-dependently. The expression of pro-inflammatory genes was down-regulated with simultaneous up-regulation of anti-inflammatory genes by ICE. This study revealed that ICE possesses potent anti-inflammatory capacity thus backup its traditional use in the treatment of inflammation.