Abstract
Piper Cubeba (L.) is used as a remedy for various ailments. However, the scientific basis for its medicinal use, especially as anti-inflammation remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Piper cubeba essential oil (PCEO) in laboratory rodent models. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of PCEO at three doses (150, 300 and 600 mg /kg, p.o) was tested in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan-induced pleurisy. The mechanism of inflammation using carrageenaninduced pleurisy in rat was further studied. The in vitro antioxidant activity was examined using DPPH. In parallel to that the oil was analyzed using GC/MS. PCEO at 600 mg/kg reduced the paw edema considerably (65%) and the weight of cotton pellet granuloma (46%). The pretreatment with PCEO also reduced exudate volume. The number of Polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells was reduced. Furthermore, dose dependent reduction in myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokine such tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha) and interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta) were observed and supported by histological observation. Moreover, PCEO exhibited promising strong antioxidant activity. The GC/MS uncovered that monoterpenes e.g. sabinene, 4-terpineol, gamma-terpinene and alpha-thujene were the fundamental part of the oil which could be in charge for the demonstrated activities.