Jatropha integerrima Jacq., family: Euphorbiaceae, is used in India and subtropical Africa to treat different skin conditions. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of J. integerrima leaves extract (JILE) using rat paw
edema model. The extract was administered orally (200 and 400 mg/kg) or applied topically as creams at 2.5, 5, and 10% strength. Four hours post-treatment, maximum reduction of
edema volume by 63.09% was observed after
oral administration of JILE (400 mg/kg) as compared to
indomethacin with 60.43%. The extract anti-inflammatory effect was accompanied by a decrease in NO,
prostaglandin PGE2, TNF-α and PKC levels by 19, 29.35, 16.9, and 47.83%, respectively. Additionally, topical applications of JILE showed dose dependent reduction in paw
edema and resulted in normalized levels of
PGE2, TNF-α, and PKC when used as 10% cream. Signs of
inflammations were reduced or absent from paw tissue of animals receiving JILE either orally or topically. Finally, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of JILE resulted in the annotation of 133 metabolites including 24
diterpenoids, 19
flavonoids, 10
phenolic acid conjugates, 8
cyclic peptides, 6
phytosterols, 4
sesquiterpenes, and 4
coumarins. Several of the annotated metabolites have known anti-inflammatory activity including
vitexin,
isovitexin, fraxitin, scopeltin,
stigmasterol, and many diterpenoidal derivatives.