Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Gastroprotective Activity of Aqueous Peel Extract of Allium Cepa
Abstract
Allium cepa bulbs (onions) are widely consumed as food, spice and for medicinal purposes. The peels of
Allium cepa (A. cepa) are often discarded as waste but have been reported in literature to contain beneficial
phytoconstituents with pharmacologic activity. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and mucosal
protective activity of aqueous extract of Allium cepa peels. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using
carrageenan-induced paw edema. Rats were treated orally with extract (200-400 mg/kg) and acetylsalicylic acid (100
mg/kg) as positive control. Thirty minutes after, carrageenan (0.1 ml of 1% w/v) was injected on the sub plantar surface
of the right hind paw and edema measured with a digital vernier caliper. The mucosal protective activity was
determined with acetylsalicylic acid-induced mucosa damage. The rats were pretreated orally with omeprazole (20
mg/kg) and A. cepa peel extract (200 – 400 mg/kg) before the administration of acetyl salicylic acid (300 mg/kg). The
stomach of the rats was removed after three hours then examined macroscopically for bands of inflammation, color and
hemorrhagic streaks. A. cepa peel extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.01) reduction in carrageenan
induced paw edema. The percentage inhibition of inflammation by extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) at 150 minutes post
treatment with carrageenan was 83.39 % and 82.76 % respectively, while acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg) produced an
inhibition of 72.41 %. The aqueous peel extract also caused significant (p<0.001) inhibition of gastric inflammation
induced by acetylsalicylic acid. The percentage inhibition by A. cepa extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) was 86.04 % and 92.79
% respectively, while omeprazole (20 mg/kg) produced an inhibition of 77.48 %. The results obtained from this study
show the aqueous peel extract of Allium cepa has potential anti-inflammatory and gastric mucosa protective activity.
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Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Basic Pharmacology |
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | June 28, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2022 Volume: 26 Issue: 4 |