Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of topically applied hexane fraction and aqueous extract of C. afer leaves balm and cream formula on xylene-induced ear edema.
Methods: In vitro anti-inflammatory study was carried out using thermally-induced protein denaturation and human erythrocyte membrane stabilization assays while in vivo anti-inflammatory study was performed using xylene-induced ear edema in rat model.
Results: Hexane fraction of C. afer leaves significantly inhibited thermally-induced protein denaturation and stabilized human erythrocyte membrane against hypotonicity-induced hemolysis when compared with aqueous extract of C. afer leaves. Furthermore, in vivo study showed that 10% and 20% w/w hexane fraction of C. afer leaves balm formula at 360 min significantly suppressed xylene-induced ear edema by 82.02% (0.16 ± 0.01 mm) and 96.62% (0.03 ± 0.01 mm) respectively when compared with 10% and 20% w/w aqueous extract of C. afer leaves cream formula with 55.06% (0.40 ± 0.01 mm) and 67.42% (0.29 ± 0.02 mm) inhibitions respectively.
Conclusion: The findings from this study revealed that hexane fraction of C. afer leaves balm formula exhibited higher anti-inflammatory activity against xylene-induced topical inflammation.

Key words: Anti-inflammation; balm; cream; Costus afer; topical inflammation