Experimental Evaluation of Polyherbal Extract of Ocimum Sanctum, Clitoria Ternatea, And Eclipta Prostrata for Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Rat

Inflammation is a process that occurs when the body responds to damage or harmful factors like infections or injuries. It often causes redness, swelling, pain, and reduced function in the area. While many medicines are used to treat inflammation, they can sometimes cause side effects. This has led scientists to look for alternatives, such as medicines made from plants. Plants contain various natural compounds that can help reduce inflammation. This opens the door to creating topical treatments, like creams or ointments, using plant extracts. The main goal of this study was to create a multi-plant ointment using extracts from three plants: Ocimum sanctum, Clitoria ternatea, and Eclipta prostrata. The researchers aimed to test how the ointment looked and felt, and to see if it might help reduce inflammation in a lab experiment. To prepare the ointment , the plant materials were gathered, dried in the shade, ground into powder, and then soaked in ethanol for three days. This process helped to extract the active ingredients. The powdered parts-5 grams each of Ocimum sanctum leaves, Clitoria ternatea flowers, and Eclipta prostrate leaves-were mixed with ethanol and left to steep. The liquid extract was then added to a base made of wool fat, cetostearyl alcohol, hard paraffin, and soft paraffin. This base helps the ointment maintain its shape and spread well. The team tested the ointment in several ways. They checked its color, smell, thickness , pH level, spreadability, stickiness, and how well it dissolved in liquids. They also assessed its safety for skin. To test its ability to reduce inflammation , they used a specific method: they injected carrageenan into the paws of rats to induce swelling and then applied the ointment to some of the animals. The group that did not receive the ointment was used as a control. Diclofenac, a known anti-inflammatory drug, was used as a reference. The ointment turned out to be yellowish-green in color, had a distinct smell, and felt thick and smooth. Its pH was 6.92, which is close to the skin's pH. It spread well-74 mm in the test-and had a viscosity of 42 cP. The ointment was slightly sticky and could be washed off with water. It didn't dissolve in water but did dissolve in ether and chloroform. When tested on rats, the group that received the ointment had less swelling in their paws compared to the group that did not receive any treatment. The data did not include exact numbers to quantify how much swelling was reduced or whether the difference was statistically significant. The study shows that it is possible to create an ointment using these three plants. The preliminary results suggest it might help reduce inflammation. However, more work is needed. The researchers need to conduct tests with clear numerical data, perform statistical analyses, improve the consistency of the formula, and verify safety before declaring it ready for use in humans.