Chronic anti-inflammatory effect of methanolic extracts of leaf, bark and fruit of Averrhoa bilimbi on cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammation in rats

Inflammation is a complex biological response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. While acute inflammation is a protective mechanism, chronic inflammation is implicated in a variety of diseases. Medicinal plants have been used for centuries in managing inflammation. The present study aimed to evaluate anti-inflammatory potential of crude methanolic extract of leaf, bark and fruit of Averrhoa bilimbi Linn (Oxalidiaceae). The dried and powder leaves, stem barks and fruits of A. bilimbi Linn were extracted with methanol and the crude methanolic extracts were investigated for the evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential by cotton pellet-induced chronic inflammatory model in rats. The methanolic extracts of A. bilimbi leaves, stem barks and fruits were diminished inflammation as shown by lowered cotton pellet weight in cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. In this study, the results of leaves methanolic extract exhibited most significant anti-inflammatory action and results were comparable to diclofenac sodium, a standard NSAID. This research demonstrates that A. bilimbi has significant anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its potential as a source for isolating active compounds for treatment of inflammation.