Evaluation of in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic attributes of methanolic extract ofLaunaea spinosa

Launaea spinosais used as an anti-inflammatory agent traditionally. This study was conducted to evaluate anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities of methanol extract ofLaunaea spinosa. Extraction was performed by maceration and the resultant green coloured extract was labelled asLs.Me. Solubility analysis showed thatLs.Mewas miscible with distilled water, normal saline, ethanol and methanol. Metal analysis following acid digestion method exhibited the presence of copper, magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc and calcium. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites inLs.Me. HPLC analysis showed the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, benzoic acid and sinapic acid inLs.Me. Data of in vitro antioxidant assays showed moderate antioxidant potential ofLs.Mewhich was also confirmed by data of in vivo enzymes (SOD, CAT, and TSP) assays. Antimicrobial assays data showed thatLs.Mewas active againstS.aureusandS.epidermidis(bacterial) as well asC.albicansandA.niger(fungal) strains. Data of acute physio-pathological studies showed no abnormalities in Albino rats up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg ofLs.Me. Acute and chronic inflammatory models were used to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects ofLs.Me.Data of acute studies showed thatLs.Mehas the potential to arrest inflammation produced by different mediators in a dose-dependent manner. 200 mg/kg ofLs.Mewas found to produce significantly (p < 0.05) better anti-inflammatory effects than 100 mg/kg ofLs.Me.Ls.Mealso significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited ear edema induced by xylene.Ls.Meshowed profound anti-inflammatory responses in paw edema induced by formalin and also inhibited granuloma development in cotton pellet-induced granuloma model. Histopathological and biochemical investigations showed marked reduction in the number of inflammatory cells. TNF-alpha and IL-6 ELSIA kits were used to study effects ofLs.Metreatment on serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6. Data obtained showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels in serum of animals treated withLs.Me. Data of in vivo angiogenesis assay showed that 200 mu g/ml ofLs.Mesignificantly halted vasculature development indicating its potent anti-angiogenic potential. On the basis of findings of the current study, it is concluded that multiple phytochemicals present inLs.Meact synergistically to produce anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects. Further studies are required to standardize the plant extract and explore its safety profile. Graphic abstract