Inhibitory effects of Tinospora cordifolia and Rubia cordifolia Linn. on egg albumin-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis in rats

Abstract

SUMMARYAllergic conjunctivitis is the most common allergic disease. These diseases are severe & frequent which requires search of new treatments. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of Tinospora cordifolia (TC), Rubia cordifolia Linn. (RC) on experimentally induced allergic conjunctivitis in rats. In this study, dried water soluble extracts of TC and RC. (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o. for 7 days) were evaluated for their antiallergic activity in Wistar rats. They were tested for inhibition of egg albumin-induced vascular permeability, inhibition of histamine release from the rat conjunctiva as well as in histamine content in tears. TC and RC showed significant (P < 0.05) inhibition in vascular permeability, inhibition in histamine release from the rat conjunctiva which is reflected by reduced level of histamine content in tears. The activities were found to be comparable to azelastine hydrochloride. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect on egg albumin-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis in rat may be due to the antihistaminic activity of TC and RC. Our studies provide evidence that TC and RC may be beneficial in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.

A Review on the Biological Effects of some Natural Products

“…In addition, TNF-α was inhibited by Tinospora cordifolia in dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE-stimulated rat peritoneal mast cells. All these experiments conclude that Tinospora cordifolia, Rubia cordifolia might be having potent antiallergic components 27,28 .…”

“…Therefore, there is a search for alternate form of therapy. Tinospora cordifolia, Rubia cordifolia were evaluated for their antiallergic activity in the experimentally induced allergic condition 27,28 . It was found that Tinospora cordifolia and Rubia cordifolia exhibited significant inhibition in vascular permeability, inhibition in histamine release from the rat conjunctiva.…”