Objectives: Supplement the scientific evidence on the safety profile and therapeutic potential of the Euodia lepta stem extract in aiding the treatment of inflammation, through acute toxicity evaluations and in vivo assessments of anti-inflammatory activity in mice.
Subjects and methods: Powder of Euodia lepta stem (2 kg) was extracted by the percolation method with 96% ethanol and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain 0.108 kg of crude extract, achieving an extraction efficiency of 5.04%. The chemical composition of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins and saponins is determined by characteristic chemical reactions. The main active alkaloid (dictamnine, evolitrine, and kokusaginine) in the extract was determined by thin layer chromatography. The acute oral toxicity of the extract was determined by the Behrens method in mice. An in vivo anti-inflammatory test was conducted using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model in mice, and the degree of paw swelling was measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of the extract.
Results: The chemical composition of alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarin and saponin were identified. The main alkaloid constituents in the extract were performed using thin-layer chromatography, which corresponded to those of the standard reference alkaloids dictamnine, evolitrine, and kokusaginine. The inability to determine the LD50 of the Euodia lepta stem extract when administered orally to mice at a maximum dose of 35 g/kg body weight suggests that the extract has a relatively high safety profile, as no signs of lethality were observed even at such a high dose. The Euodia lepta stem extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg significantly reduced paw edema in mice, with this effect showing a statistically significant difference compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the extract demonstrated equivalent effectiveness in reducing paw edema compared to the positive control group treated with diclofenac (5 mg/kg) at 3 hours after carrageenan sub-plantar injection (p < 0.01) and superior efficacy at 24 hours after (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The Euodia lepta stem extract is not only safe but also demonstrates a significant effect in reducing paw edema compared to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs. The stem of Euodia lepta may have the potential to develop into an effective anti-inflammatory medicinal herb.