Acute and chronic antiinflammatory profile of the ivy plant, Hedera helix, in rats

Phytomedicine. 2003;10(5):370-4. doi: 10.1078/0944-7113-00260.

Abstract

Hedera helix is a plant well-known as ivy or English ivy, and a member of the Araliaceae family. In the present study, we tested the possible antiinflammatory effects of a crude saponin extract (CSE) and a saponin's purified extracts (SPE) of Hedera helix in carrageenan- and cotton-pellet-induced acute and chronic inflammation models in rats. Both the CSE and SPE of Hedera helix were found to have antiinflammatory effects. The most potent drug screened was indomethacin (89.2% acute antiinflammatory effect), while the most potent extract screened was the CSE of Hedera helix at 100 and 200 mg/kg body wt. doses with 77% acute antiinflammatory effects. For testing chronic antiinflammatory (antiproliferative) effects, the cotton-pellet-granuloma test was conducted. Indomethacin was found to be the most potent drug in the chronic phase of inflammation, with 66% effect. The SPE of Hedera helix was more potent than the CSE in its chronic antiinflammatory effect (60% and 49%, respectively).

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hedera / chemistry*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Male
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Saponins / isolation & purification
  • Saponins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Saponins