Introduction: Decoctions from the Eurasian Smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria Scop.) are used by the Balkan folk medicine for their antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Although infusions from C. coggygria have been applied mainly topically because of traditionally reported toxicity, there are scarce reports on the internal administration of infusions from its leaves to treat gastric ulcer and diabetes mellitus. Despite the well documented in vitro antioxidant properties of C. coggygria extracts, the plant has been somewhat ignored by pharmacological studies.
Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous infusion from Cotinus coggygria leaves (AICCL) in an acute experimental model of Carrageenan (Carr)-induced rat paw oedema (CIRPO).
Materials and Methods: Five groups of Male Wistar rats (n = 40; 200-250 g) were used in the CIRPO model: negative control (C), Carr, 1/100 AICCL+Carr, 2/100 AICCL+Carr, 4/100 AICCL+Carr. Rats were pretreated by stomach intubation with AICCL (10 ml/kg) by orogastric cannula. Groups C and Carr received distilled water. The pretreatment lasted 15 days before a single sub-plantar injection into the left hind paw of 1 mg λ-Carrageenan as 100 μL freshly prepared 1% w/v solution in 0.9% saline. The group C was injected with a vehicle (0.9% saline). The effect was evaluated by Digital plethysmometer LE7500 (Panlab, Barcelona). Average paw volume was measured 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5h after the injections and Percentage values of Paw oedema (PO) and Inhibition of paw oedema (IPO) were calculated. The CIRPO model was verified by histopathological analysis (Hematoxylin and eosin staining; Light microscopy).
Results: The average PO volume in group 2/100 AICCL+Carr was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to the group Carr, 5 hours after injection. AICCL caused IPO, that was highest half an hour and lowest 5 hours after the injection. Percentage values of IPO were moderate to low. Histopathological verification showed that Carrageenan caused acute inflammation in the dermis and skeletal muscle, severe oedema, clusters of neutrophil leukocytes and formation of phlegmons.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the protective effect of aqueous infusion from Cotinus coggygria leaves (AICCL) against acute carrageenan-induced inflammation. Most probably, this effect is due to the antioxidant properties of the infusion.
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