Inhibitory effects of curcumin, lawsonia, and ginger on kaolin induced paw edema in the rat

Background: Curcumin is yellow pigment of tumeric, and, that is extracted from it lawsonia (2-hydroxy 1,4 naphtoquinon) is a natural product and it is extracted from henna. Ginger is a dried rhizomes gained from a plant called zingiber officinalea, which is extracted from the family of ginger. Material and Methods: This experimental study performed on adult male rats. Acute inflammatory edema was induced by intraplantar injection of 0.1ml of 4%kaolin. Various concentrations of curcumin 5,10mmol, Lowsonia 10,20 mmol, ginger 5,20 mg/kg and ibuprofen 12mg/kg given S.C. immedately after kaolin injection. Paw edema assessed by calculation of volume changes and by extravasation of Evans blue dye in test group compared to the control, 4 hours after kaolin injection. Results: The results showed that 4% kaolin increased paw volume by 0.36±0.06ml, which was significantly inhibited by curcumin 69.4% at both concenterations (P<0.001). Lawosonia also had significantly inhibitory effect on increased paw volume, by 72% and 66% at 10 and 20 mmol respectively (P<0.001). The paw volune was significantly reduced, 38.8%, and 44.8% by giner at 5 and 20mg/kg respectively (P<0.01). No significant difference were found between inhibitory effects of ibuprofen and curcumin or lawsonia, but the effects of ibuprofen was found to more than ginger (P<0.05). Kaolin injection also induce 237% increase in Evans blue extravasation, which was reduced only by ginger 30.7% and 33.3% at low and high doseses respectively. Conclusion: These data suggest that, curcumin, Lawsonia, and ginger can inhibit kaolin-induced inflammatory edema, so that, the effects of curcumin and lawsonia are comparable to ibuprofen. Ginger also reduced protein leakage from vessels.   Keyword: Curcumin, Lawsonia, Ginger, Paw edema, Acute inflammation