Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Rhizome Part of Drynaria Quercifolia (l.)

Objective: The present investigation was aimed to justify the scientific basis in traditional use of Drynaria quercifolia as anti-inflammatory agent in North-East India. Methods: In-vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated by Reducing power method, Superoxide scavenging method and DPPH radical scavenging method. In-vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated using albumin denaturation and membrane stabilizing method and carrageenan induced inflammation method. In-vitro cyclooxygenase inhibition was also done to investigate the pathway of anti-inflammatory action. Result: Both methanol (MEDQ) and aqueous (AEDQ) extracts showed significant (**p<0.01) inhibition of rat paw edema in dose dependent manner and the MEDQ was the most active. The MEDQ exhibited highest inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2, protein denaturation and haemolysis at 100μg/ml. The extracts also exhibited antioxidant property against DPPH, super oxide radicals and reducing power activity. The maximum 95.972μg Gallic acid equivalents total phenolic content and 81.03μg Quercetin equivalent flavonoids content in MEDQ were estimated that was 20 fold (phenolic content) and 3 fold (flavonoids) more than AEDQ. Conclusion: These observations established the traditional claim of usefulness of D. quercifolia rhizome against inflammation, which could be due to cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibition and free radical scavenging activities of the extracts.