Ascidians as Bioresources: An Anti-inflammatory Activity of Colonial Ascidians Eudistoma ovatum and Didemnum perlucidum

Abstract Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema is a prominent inflammatory model to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of compounds of biological origin. In animals pretreated with Eudistoma ovatum (EO) and Didemnum perlucidum (DP) drugs, there was significant and dose-dependent inhibition of Carrageenan-induced posterior paw edema. A variety of antioxidant enzymes, such as Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and Glutathione reductase (GRd) can scavenge and minimize the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). SOD protects cells against the damages of ROS. GPx in the presence of glutathione (GSH) accelerates the reduction of H2O2 or other organic hydroperoxides and serves as a second line of defense against hydroperoxides. The amount of platelets is affected by the increased plasma concentration of active proteins in the acute response to inflammation. Anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema in rat model was found in the extract of both ascidians E. ovatum and D. perlucidum. But the methanolic extract of E. ovatum showed more significant anti-inflammatory activity. The study includes the investigation on the effects of EO and DP on some oxidative parameters such as lipid peroxidation (LPO), SOD and GSH level, hematological parameters (RBC, WBC and Platelets, cytokines (IL 6 and TNF α), hepatic enzymes (Acid phosphatase - ACP and Alkaline phosphatase - ALP) and membrane-bound glycoproteins (hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid, and fucose). This study provided the finely tuned of the extracts in inflammatory diseases. Thus, a pharmacological basis is achieved for use of the ascidians against rheumatism and other associated diseases.