Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activities of Quillaja saponaria Mol. saponin extract in mice

ObjectiveQuillaja saponaria bark contains a high percentage of triterpene saponins and has been used for centuries as antiinflammatory and analgesic agent in Chilean folk medicine.In the Present study the anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of commercially partially purified saponin from Quillaja saponaria Mol. in in vivo animal models.Methods & materials:Aqueous extract of the plant material was prepared by cold maceration. The anti-inflammatory activity of a commercial Quillaja saponaria Mol. (QS) saponin extract was investigated by carragenan induced mice paw edema model for acute inflammation (Winter, 1962) [16].ResultsThe anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carragenan in paw edema model in swiss albino mice (18–20g). The anti-inflammatory activity was found to be dose dependent in carragenan induced paw edema. QS was found to significantly (p<0.05) reduce the carragenan induced mice paw edema (38.59%; 20mg/kg bw) as compared to carragenan control. The percentage inhibition of standard anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin was (55%; 10mg/kg, bw).ConclusionThe results of the present study demonstrate that the aqueous extract of Quillaja saponaria saponins (QS) possess significant anti-inflammatory activity