PHCOG J.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Muntingia calabura Fruits

Kathirvel Preethi,* Paramasivam Premasudha, Kittusamy Keerthana
Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641 046

ABSTRACT

Muntingia calaburaÒTHEÒSOLEÒSPECIESÒINÒTHEÒGENUSÒ-UNTINGIAÒISÒAÒ¹OWERINGÒPLANTÒTHATÒBELONGSÒTOÒ%LAEOCARPACEAEÒFAMILYÒ

4HISÒ ISÒ AÒ FASTÒ GROWINGÒ FRUITÒ TREEÒ )TÒ ISÒ AÒ PIONEERÒ SPECIESÒ THATÒ THRIVESÒ INÒ POORÒ SOILÒ ABLEÒ TOÒ TOLERATEÒ ACIDICÒ ANDÒ ALKALINEÒ
CONDITIONSÒANDÒDROUGHTÒ4HEÒFRUITSÒAREÒCOMMONLYÒCALLEDÒ*AMAICANÒCHERRYÒANDÒAREÒREDÒINÒCOLOURÒ4HEÒ¹OWERSÒAREÒUSEDÒASÒ
ANÒANTISEPTICÒANDÒTOÒTREATÒABDOMINALÒCRAMPSÒANDÒSPASMSÒ)TÒISÒALSOÒTAKENÒTOÒRELIEVEÒHEADACHESÒANDÒCOLDSÒMuntingia
calaburaÒFRUITSÒPOSSESSÒANTIOXIDANTÒPROPERTYÒ(OWEVERÒTHEIRÒANTI
IN¹AMMATORYÒACTIVITYÒHASÒNOTÒBEENÒINVESTIGATEDÒSOÒFARÒ
4HEÒ AIMÒ OFÒ THISÒ STUDYÒ THEREFOREÒ WASÒ TOÒ EVALUATEÒ THEÒ ANTI
IN¹AMMATORYÒ ACTIVITYÒ FROMÒ THEÒ FRUITSÒ OFÒ M. calabura. The
METHANOLICÒFRUITÒEXTRACTSÒÒÒANDÒÒMGKGÒIP ÒREDUCEDÒTHEÒ#ARRAGEENAN
INDUCEDÒEDEMAÒOFÒTHEÒHINDÒPAWÒOFÒADULTÒ
MALEÒ 7ISTARÒ !LBINOÒ RATSÒ INÒ Ò HOURSÒ 4HEÒ ACTIVITYÒ WASÒ COMPAREDÒ WITHÒ THATÒ OFÒ THEÒ STANDARDÒ DRUGÒ INDOMETHACINÒ !CUTEÒ
TOXICITYÒWASÒINVESTIGATEDÒANDÒTHEÒRESULTSÒINDICATEDÒNOÒABNORMALITIESÒINÒTHEÒBEHAVIOURÒANDÒLETHALITYÒBYÒTHEÒEXTRACTÒUPÒTOÒ
ÒMGKGÒ4HESEÒRESULTSÒINDICATEÒTHEÒFRUITÒEXTRACTÒOFÒM. calaburaÒPOSSESSÒPOTENTÒANTI
IN¹AMMATORYÒACTIVITYÒ4HEREFOREÒ
THESEÒPHARMACOLOGICALÒRESULTSÒCLEARLYÒSUPPORTÒTRADITIONALÒFOLKLORICÒAPPLICATIONÒOFÒM. calaburaÒFRUITSÒINÒTHEÒCONTROLÒANDORÒ
PAINÒIN¹AMMATORYÒILLNESSÒASÒWELLÒASÒANÒANTIOXIDANTÒAGENT
Key words: muntingia calaburaÒFRUITSÒELAEOCARPACEAEÒANTI
IN¹AMMATORYÒANTIOXIDANTÒACTIVITY
INTRODUCTION
Plants are potent biochemical factories and have been
components of phytomedicine. Since time immemorial
man is able to obtain from them a wondrous assortment
RI LQGXVWULDOFKHPLFDOV3ODQWEDVHGQDWXUDOFRQVWLWXHQWV
FDQEHGHULYHGIURPDQ\SDUWRI WKHSODQWOLNHEDUNOHDYHV
ÁRZHUVURRWVIUXLWVVHHGVHWFWKDWLVDQ\SDUWRI WKH
plant may contain active components.[1]
The protective effect of fruits and vegetables has generally
EHHQDWWULEXWHGWRWKHLUDQWLR[LGDQWFRQVWLWXHQWVLQFOXGLQJ
mechanism or action is known.[3] Many herbal preparations
DUHEHLQJSUHVFULEHGZLGHO\IRUWKHWUHDWPHQWRI LQÁDPPDWRU\
conditions.[4] There is a need for research and developmental
work in herbal medicine because apart from the social and
HFRQRPLFEHQHÀWVLWKDVEHFRPHDSHUVLVWHQWDVSHFWRI 
present day health care in developing countries.
Plant secondary metabolites have provided an important
source of drugs since ancient times and now around half of
the practical drugs used are derived from natural sources.[5]
6RPHUHVHDUFKKDVVKRZQWKDWÁDYRQRLGFRPSRXQGVDUH
YLWDPLQ&DVFRUELFDFLG9LWDPLQ(WRFRSKHUROFDURWHQRLGV SUHVHQWLQYDULRXVSODQWVH[HUWEHQHÀFLDOHIIHFWVRQKXPDQ
JOXWDWKLRQHÁDYRQRLGVDQGSKHQROLFDFLGVDVZHOODVRWKHU KHDOWKVXFKDVFDUGLRYDVFXODUSURWHFWLRQDQWLFDQFHUDFWLYLW\
XQLGHQWLÀHGFRPSRXQGV[2] DQWLQRFLFHSWLYHDFWLYLW\DQGDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\HIIHFWV>@

9DULRXVKHUEDOPHGLFLQHVGHULYHGIURPSODQWH[WUDFWVDUH ,WLVNQRZQWKDWWKHUHDUHOLQNVEHWZHHQWKHLQÁDPPDWRU\
being used in the treatment of a wide variety of clinical DQGQRFLFHSWLYHR[LGDWLYHDQGFDQFHUSURFHVVHV7KHDELOLW\
GLVHDVHV WKRXJK UHODWLYHO\ OLWWOH NQRZOHGJH DERXW WKHLU WRLQKLELWDQ\RI WKHSURFHVVHVZLOOGHÀQLWHO\OHDGWRWKH
inhibition of the others.[9]

*Address for correspondence: Water soluble extract from leaves of M. calabura produced
Dr. K. Preethi, Assistant Professor, SRWHQWDQWLQRFLFHSWLYHDQGDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\DFWLYLWLHV7KH
Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University,
Coimbatore – 641 046, Tamilnadu.
preliminary phytochemical analysis performed in M. calabura
E-mail: gunpre@yahoo.com; premsmb@gmail.com OHDYHV VKRZHG WKH SUHVHQFH RI  ÁDYRQRLGV FKDOFRQHV
fun_kreethice@yahoo.co.in terpenoids and phenolic compounds. The constituents
UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHDQDOJHVLFDQGDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\HIIHFWV
DOI: 10.5530/pj.2012.30.10
of M. calabura have not yet been elucidated.[10]

Pharmacognosy Journal | July-August 2012 | Vol 4 | Issue 30 51

 Preethi, et al.: Anti-inflammatory Activity of Muntingia calabura Fruits

,WZDVVFLHQWLÀFDOO\SURYHGWKDWM. calabura leaves possess ZLWK ,QVWLWXWLRQDO $QLPDO (WKLF &RPPLWWHH ,$(&
DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\DQGDQWLS\UHWLFDFWLYLW\[11] Plant secondary JXLGHOLQHVDIWHUJHWWLQJWKHDSSURYDORI WKHFRPPLWWHHIRU
metabolites have provided an important source of drugs the purpose of control and supervision of experiments
from ancient times and now around half of the practical RQDQLPDOV&3&6($LQ.DUSDJDP8QLYHUVLW\&RLPEDWRUH
drugs used are derived from natural sources.[5] &3&6($1RDEF&3&6($

Adult male Wister rats taken for the study were divided
MATERIALS AND METHODS into 6 groups; each group containing 6 animals and each
JURXSZDVWUHDWHGDVIROORZV
Plant materials
Muntingia calaburaSODQWEHORQJVWRWKHIDPLO\(ODHRFDUSDFHDH Groups Treatment
The fruits of M. calabura were collected from the surrounding Group 1 Control rats (normal saline only)
DUHDV RI  (URGH GLVWULFW 7DPLOQDGX ,QGLD DQG WKH SODQW Group 2 Inflammation by carageenan
ZDV LGHQWLÀHG DXWKHQWLFDWHG DQG GHSRVLWHG 9RXFKHU Group 3 Standard drug
QXPEHU%6,6&7HFK DW 7DPLO 1DGX Group 4 100 mg/kg fruit extract + carageenan
Group 5 200 mg/kg fruit extract + carageenan
$JULFXOWXUDO8QLYHUVLW\&RLPEDWRUH7DPLOQDGX Group 6 300 mg/kg fruit extract + carageenan

Preparation of methanolic extract Preparation of test agents

The fruits of M. calabura were freshly collected and extracted The methanol extract of M. calabura fruit was dissolved in
ZLWKPHWKDQROWKHH[WUDFWZDVFRPSOHWHO\GULHGLQYDFXXP
stored in refrigerator at 4ºC and protected from sunlight
for further use.
Antioxidant activity
DPPH radical scavenging assay
7KH HIIHFW RI  IUXLW H[WUDFWV RQ '33+ GLSKHQ\O
LVRWRQLFQRUPDOVDOLQHZYWRPDNHDVWRFNVROXWLRQ
ZLWKDFRQFHQWUDWLRQRI PJPO7KUHHGLIIHUHQWGRVHV
DW    PJNJ ZHUH LQMHFWHG LQWR WKH DQLPDOV
Additional test agents used in this study included Carrageenan
and indomethacin. All chemicals and the extract were
administered orally. All drugs and the extract were freshly
prepared before use and dissolved in isotonic normal saline
picracyl hydrazine) radical was determined.[12] Different ZYZKLFKVHUYHGDVWKHYHKLFOHDQGYROXPHFRQWURO
FRQFHQWUDWLRQVRI WKHH[WUDFWV—JPO
ZHUHSUHSDUHGDQGVXEMHFWHGWRDQWLR[LGDQWWHVWV7RPO
RI HDFKRI WKHH[WUDFWVPORI P0PHWKDQROVROXWLRQ
RI '33+ZDVDGGHGYRUWH[HVIROORZHGE\LQFXEDWLRQDW
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extract and absorbance of the sample was measured at
IRUDOODJHQWV7KHRQO\H[FHSWLRQZDV&DUUDJHHQDQZKLFK
was 0.5% CMC in distilled water served as the vehicle
control.
Anti-inflammatory activity
7KH DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\ DFWLYLW\ RI  WKH IUXLW VDPSOH ZDV
QPXVLQJ899,66SHFWURSKRWRPHWHU(/,&2XVLQJ LQYHVWLJDWHGLQ&DUUDJHHQDQLQGXFHGLQÁDPPDWRU\PRGHO
methanol to set 0. The ability to scavenge DPPH radical $FXWH LQÁDPPDWLRQ ZDV LQGXFHG LQ UDWV[13] The control
ZDVFDOFXODWHGE\WKHIROORZLQJHTXDWLRQ JURXSZDVDGPLQLVWHUHGZLWKWKHVDOLQHVROXWLRQRQO\ZKLOH
Abscontrol – Abssample WKHWKLUGJURXSZDVWUHDWHGZLWKLQGRPHWKDFLQPJNJ
% inhibition = 100 × SR7KHIRXUWKÀIWKDQGVL[WKJURXSVZHUHDGPLQLVWHUHG
Abscontrol ZLWKWKHIUXLWH[WUDFWDQGPJNJGD\SR
Pharmacological tests respectively. One hour after the administration of fruit
General animal preparation H[WUDFWWKHVWDQGDUGLQGRPHWKDFLQDFXWHLQÁDPPDWLRQZDV
([SHULPHQWVZHUHSHUIRUPHGRQKHDOWK\PDOH:LVWDU$OELQR SURGXFHG $FXWH LQÁDPPDWRU\ HGHPD ZDV LQGXFHG E\
UDWVJSURFXUHGIURPWKHVPDOODQLPDOVEUHHGLQJ VXESODQWDULQMHFWLRQRI PO&DUUDJHHQDQLQWKHULJKW
VWDWLRQ 0DQQXWK\ .HUDOD ,QGLD 7KH\ ZHUH KRXVHG LQ hind paw of each rat in all the groups except the control
SRO\SURS\OHQHFDJHVïïFPZLWKQRWPRUH group. The thickness (mm) of the paw was measured
than six animals per cage and maintained at standard immediately and at 30 mins interval for four hrs after the
HQYLURQPHQWDOFRQGLWLRQVKUVGDUOLJKWF\FOHVWHPS &DUUDJHHQDQ LQMHFWLRQ E\ XVLQJ YHUQLHU FDOOLSHU[14] The
“ƒ&KXPLGLW\DLUYHQWLODWLRQDQGZHUHIHG percentage of inhibition of edema was calculated for each
ZLWK VWDQGDUG SHOOHW GLHW 0V +LQGXVWDQ /HYHU /WG GRVHXVLQJWKHIROORZLQJIRUPXOD
0XPEDL,QGLDDQGIUHVKZDWHUad labium. The rats were
acclimatized to the environment for two weeks prior to
experimental use. Animals were fasted overnight before
% Inhibition = (²39
39 )
× 100
C
T

 39T = Paw volume in drug treated group of rats

WKHH[SHULPHQWDOVFKHGXOHEXWKDGIUHHDFFHVVWRZDWHUad
libitum. All animal procedures were performed in accordance  39C = Paw volume in control group of rats

52 Pharmacognosy Journal | July-August 2012 | Vol 4 | Issue 30

 Preethi, et al.: Anti-inflammatory Activity of Muntingia calabura Fruits

Statistical analysis DISCUSSION

All the values were expressed as mean ± SD. The data were
DVVHVVHG XVLQJ RQH ZD\ DQDO\VLV RI  YDULDQFH $129$
IROORZHG E\ VWXGHQW·V W· WHVW 6WDWLVWLFDO VLJQLÀFDQFH ZDV
accepted at p<0.05.
RESULTS
,QRXUVWXG\WKHIUXLWVRI M. calabura were evaluated for
LWV DQWLR[LGDQW DFWLYLW\ XVLQJ '33+ GLSKHQ\O
picrylhydrazyl) assay. The IC50 value was obtained for the
WHVWHGDVVD\ZKLFKVKRZHGWKDWWKHORZHUWKH,&50 YDOXH
the higher was the antioxidant activity (Table 1).
3HUFHQWDJHLQKLELWLRQRI HGHPDYROXPHRI PHWKDQRODQG
VWDQGDUGGUXJVZHUHFDOFXODWHGDIWHUHYHU\KRXUIRUÀYH
KRXUV7KHUHZDVDVLJQLÀFDQWDQGGRVHGHSHQGHQWDQWL
LQÁDPPDWRU\ DFWLYLW\ RI  PHWKDQROLF H[WUDFW LQ WKH
&DUUDJHHQDQLQGXFHGUDWSDZHGHPDPRGHO5HVXOWVRI WKH
effect of M. calaburaIUXLWH[WUDFWLQ&DUUDJHHQDQLQGXFHG
HGHPDLQWHVWUDWVDUHVKRZQLQ)LJXUHDQG3ODWH(GHPD
was greatly suppressed irrespective of the dose level of
extract used and was comparable to the standard
indomethacin treatment.
The methanol extract of M. calabura fruit at the dose levels
RI    DQG  PJNJ FDXVHG D GRVH GHSHQGHQW
inhibition of localized swelling caused by Carrageenan at
7KHIUXLWH[WUDFWGHPRQVWUDWHG+GRQRUDFWLYLW\:LWKUHJDUG
to the estimated IC50 YDOXH WKH H[WUDFWV RI  M. calabura
GLVSOD\HG VLJQLÀFDQW '33+ UDGLFDO TXHQFKLQJ SURSHUW\
7KH'33+DVVD\FRQVWLWXWHVDTXLFNDQGORZFRVWPHWKRG
which has frequently been used for the evaluation of the
antioxidant property of various natural products.[1]
Herbal products are consumed in traditional medical
V\VWHPVDVIXQFWLRQDOUHFUHDWLRQDOIRRGVXSSOHPHQWVRU
DVPHGLFLQHVLQPDQ\FRXQWULHV,QUHFHQW\HDUVHYLGHQFH
has accumulated to suggest that complementary medicine
for treatment of various diseases is another more popular
choice.[15] Many plant extracts of botanical medicinal herbs
have been shown to relieve disease’s symptoms comparable
WRWKRVHREWDLQHGIURPDOORSDWKLFPHGLFLQHV)XUWKHUPRUH
chemical therapeutics are often associated with severe
DGYHUVHHIIHFWV7KHUHIRUHVDIHUFRPSRXQGVRI QDWXUDO
SURGXFWVZLWKIHZHUVLGHHIIHFWVDUHQHHGHG,QWKLVVWXG\
demonstrations have produced novel observations for the
ÀUVW WLPH WKDW WKH IUXLW H[WUDFWV RI  M. calabura possess
DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\ HIIHFWV LQ &DUUDJHHQDQLQGXFHG KLQG
SDZDFXWHLQÁDPPDWLRQ,QPRVWLQVWDQFHVKRZHYHUWKH
Table 1: The percentage inhibition on DPPH radical
by M. calabura fruit extract
KUV7DEOH7KHVLJQLÀFDQWDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\HIIHFW Concn in μg/ml % inhibition

was dose dependent with 24.36% reduction observed for 100 55

200 65
 PJNJ DQG  VHHQ IRU  PJNJ GRVH DQG 300 78
 REVHUYHG IRU  PJNJ GRVH )XUWKHU WKH 400 85
SURWHFWLRQLQGXFHGE\PJNJZDVDOVRIRXQGWREHDV 500 94
SRWHQWDVLQGRPHWKDFLQLQUHGXFLQJSDZHGHPD ͘͝˜ƒŽ—‡͘͡Ɋ‰ȀŽ

Figure 1: The anti-inflammatory effect of M. calabura fruit extract on paw edema in Wistar Albino rats

Pharmacognosy Journal | July-August 2012 | Vol 4 | Issue 30 53

 Preethi, et al.: Anti-inflammatory Activity of Muntingia calabura Fruits

Plate 1: The anti-inflamatory effect of M. calabura fruit extract on Carrageenan-induced Wistar Albino rats

Table 2: The effect of fruit extract on percentage inhibition of paw volume

Groups Initial paw Paw thickness Difference in Inhibition
thickness (mm) after 4 hr (mm) paw thickness (mm) percentage
Control 4.58 ± 0.28 4.58 ± 0.28 0 -
Induced 5.15 ± 0.33 4.33 ± 0.27 0.82 -
Standard 4.64 ± 0.37 4.48 ± 0.29 0.16 80.48
100 mg/kg 5.01 ± 0.41 4.41 ± 0.32 0.7 24.36
200 mg/kg 4.90 ± 0.25 4.36 ± 0.17 0.54 44.14
300 mg/kg 4.95 ± 0.34 4.56 ± 0.23 0.39 62.43

Values are meanΰ‘ˆ•‹š•ƒ’Ž‡•‹‡ƒ…Š‰”‘—’

HIIHFWVRI WKHH[WUDFWVZHUHVLJQLÀFDQWDQGGRVHGHSHQGHQW the treatment of headaches and incipient cold or as

7KH REVHUYHG DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\ HIIHFWV RI  M. calabura
fruit extracts could be due to the presence of biologically
active chemical constituents in the extracts.
M. calabura has been used widely in both tropical America
and Southeast Asia.>@,Q(DVW$VLDÁRZHUVDUHXVHGIRU
WUDQTXLOOL]HUVDQWLVSDVPRGLFVDQGDQWLG\VSHSWLFV5HFHQWO\
ethyl acetate soluble extracts from the leaves of M. calabura
DQGLWVPDMRUFRQVWLWXHQWÁDYRQRLGVKDYHEHHQUHSRUWHG
to have chemopreventive effects.>@ In order to evaluate
DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\HIIHFWVRI M. calabura fruit extract on
WKHDFXWHLQÁDPPDWLRQSURFHVVWKHUDWSDZHGHPDPRGHO

54 Pharmacognosy Journal | July-August 2012 | Vol 4 | Issue 30

 Preethi, et al.: Anti-inflammatory Activity of Muntingia calabura Fruits

ZDVXVHG,QWKLVH[SHULPHQWDOPRGHOWKH&DUUDJHHQDQ are required to identify the actual chemical components

LQGXFHGHGHPDDWKUVZDVVLJQLÀFDQWO\LQKLELWHGE\WKH
IUXLWH[WUDFW7KHVLJQLÀFDQWDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\HIIHFWZDV
dose dependent. This data supports the hypothesis of the
effect of M. calabura IUXLWRQWKHLQÁDPPDWLRQPHGLDWRUV
LQLQÁDPPDWRU\SURFHVVHV,WLVHYLGHQWWKDW&DUUDJHHQDQ
is a sulphated mucopolysaccharide obtained from the sea
that are present in the crude extracts of this plant which
DUHUHVSRQVLEOHIRUDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\DFWLYLW\
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UDWVLVDQHVWDEOLVKHGPRGHOIRUHYDOXDWLQJDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\
GUXJV ZKLFK KDV EHHQ XVHG IUHTXHQWO\ WR DFFHVV DQWL
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DVVRFLDWLRQEHWZHHQWKHDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\DQGDQWLR[LGDQW
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V\QWKHVLVZKLFKLQWXUQZLOOOHDGWRWKHDQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\
DQWLFDQFHUDQGDQWLR[LGDQWDFWLYLWLHV>@
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K\GUHR[\W\SWDPLQH+7GXULQJWKHÀUVWRQHKRXUDIWHU
ZKLFK NLQQLQV DFW WR LQFUHDVH WKH YDVFXODU SHUPHDELOLW\
XSWRWZRDQGDKDOI KRXUV7KHPD[LPXPLQÁDPPDWLRQ
is seen approximately three hours post the Carrageenan
LQMHFWLRQDIWHUZKLFKLWEHJLQVWRGHFOLQH)ROORZLQJWKDW
the prostaglandins act from two and a half hours to six
KRXUVZKLFKUHVXOWVLQWKHPLJUDWLRQRI OHXFRF\WHVLQWR
WKHLQÁDPHGVLWH>@ The pharmacological properties of
VDIÁRZHUKDYHEHHQHYDOXDWHGIRUDQWLWXPRUVHGDWLYH>@
DQWLPLFURELDO[29]DQWLLQÁDPPDWRU\DQGDQDOJHVLFHIIHFWV[30]
M. calabura VKRZVDVLJQLÀFDQWLQKLELWLRQRI LQÁDPPDWLRQ
which is comparable to the standard drug indomethacin.
,Q VXPPDU\ RXU UHVXOWV GHPRQVWUDWHG WKDW WKH IUXLW
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QRQVWHURLGGUXJVVXFKDVLQGRPHWKDFLQ7KHVHÀQGLQJV
SURYLGHVFLHQWLÀFVXSSRUWLQJHYLGHQFHIRUWKHWKHUDSHXWLF
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Pharmacognosy Journal | July-August 2012 | Vol 4 | Issue 30