The triterpenoid fraction from Trichosanthes dioica root suppresses experimentally induced inflammatory ascites in rats.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. (Cucurbitaceae), called pointed gourd in English, is a dioecious climber found wild throughout the plains of the Indian subcontinent and traditionally used in India for several medicinal purposes. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the protective effect of the triterpenoid enriched fraction from T. dioica root (CETD) against experimentally induced acute inflammatory ascites in Wistar albino rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CETD was administered orally at the different doses (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) to overnight fasted rats, and then ascites was induced by intraperitoneal administration of formalin solution. After 7 h, the rats were sacrificed and the volume of ascitic fluid was measured. RESULTS: The CETD demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) reduction of ascitic fluid formation in a dose-dependent manner as compared with control. CONCLUSION: The CETD produced significant and dose-dependent inhibition of experimentally induced inflammatory ascites in Wistar albino rats.