Evaluation of in vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Leaves of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae)

Aim: The present study focused to establish the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of leaf extracts of Terminalia chebula prepared using different solvents. Materials and Methods: The in vitro antiinflammatory potentiality of leaves of Terminalia chebula were tested using the protein denaturation inhibition assay (bovine serum albumin inhibition assay). Results: Leaves of Terminalia chebula were extracted by ultrasonic assisted extraction using different solvents in increasing order of polarity. The extracts so obtained were screened for anti-inflammatory potential. Leaf extracts of different concentrations ranging from 6.25-100 μg/mL were incubated with bovine serum albumin and its ability to inhibit protein denaturation was measured. The percentage of inhibition of standard diclofenac sodium was determined and its IC₅₀ value was found to be 49.57 μg/ mL. The ethanol, ethanol: distilled water extracts (4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4) and distilled water extracts exhibited greater inhibition of protein denaturation and their IC₅₀ values ranged from 52.03 μg/mL to 77.75 μg/mL. Conclusion: The current study proved that leaves of Terminalia chebula exhibited considerable amount of anti-inflammatory activity and could be used as anti-inflammatory drug but only after proper scientific validation (further in vitro and in vivo studies).