EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-RHEUMATIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITIES OF ETHANOLIC Moringa Oleifera BARK EXTRACT USING IN VITRO PROTEIN DENATURATION AND IN VIVO EGG ALBUMIN INDUCED PAW EDEMA MODELS

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the management of various inflammatory conditions. The present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic Moringa oleifera bark extract using in vitro protein denaturation and in vivo egg albumin-induced paw edema models. The bark was collected, shade-dried, powdered and extracted with ethanol by maceration. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, glycosides and volatile oils. In-vitro anti-rheumatic activity was evaluated by the egg albumin denaturation method, where the extract showed concentration-dependent inhibition, with 55% inhibition at 15 mg and an IC₅₀ value of 11.01 mg. Diclofenac sodium was used as the standard and showed an IC₅₀ value of 11.40 mg. In-vivo anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using egg albumin-induced paw edema in Wistar rats. The extract showed reduction in paw edema at both tested doses, with the high dose producing 36.34% inhibition at 4 h, compared with 37.40% for indomethacin. The findings suggest that ethanolic Moringa oleifera bark extract possesses promising anti-rheumatic and anti-inflammatory activities and may serve as a potential natural source of bioactive anti-inflammatory agents.