ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND GC – MS ANALYSIS OF ESSENTIAL OIL OF ALPINIA CALCARATA RHIZOME

Abstract

In the present study, essential oil isolated from Alpinia calcarata was analyzed  and also assessed for acute toxicity, anti-inflammatory and analgesic  activities in animals. The essential oil isolated from Alpinia calcarata was analyzed by using GC-MS on a combined GC-MS instrument. For evaluation of the anti-inflammatory property “carrageenan induced paw edema model” served as acute model. “Acetic acid induced writhing response model” was used to assess analgesic activity in mice. The major components of essential oils isolated from Alpinia calcarata were Camphene (3.86%), Betamyrcene(4.39%), Eucalyptol(14.05%), Linalol(2.48%), Pyrazine(1.72%), L-camphor(7.90%) and Berneol(5.67%). Intraperitoneal injection of essential oil isolated from Alpinia calcarata significantly (P<0.05) suppressed the paw edema induced by carrageenan in two different dose levels studies namely 400mg/kg and 380mg/kg. Intraperitoneal injection of essential oil also significantly attenuated the acetic acid induced writhing response  in three different dose levels studies namely 200 mg/kg (significant at P<0.05), 400mg/kg (significant at P<0.01) and 600mg/kg (significant at P<0.01). These studies suggest that essential oil isolated from Alpinia calcarata might possess significant anti-inflammatory activity and analgesic effect and could be a potential source for treatment of different inflammatory diseases.