Agricultural Science Digest
SCOPUS
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 45
  • Issue: 6

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Taraxacum officinale on Carrageenan-induced Paw Edema in Wistar Rats

  • Author:
  • Mahjouba Lakehal1, Abdelmalek Chaalel1,*, Mokhtaria Yasmina Boufadi2, Nawal Boukezzoula1, Djilali Benabdelmoumene3, Choukri Tefiani4
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 1032 to 1039

1Laboratory of Beneficial Microorganisms, Functional Foods and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, University of Mostaganem, BP 188, Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria

2Laboratory of Bioeconomy, Food Safety and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, University of Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, 27000, Mostaganem, Algeria

3Laboratory of Applied Animal Physiology, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, University of Mostaganem, BP 188, Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria

4Laboratory of Functional Agrosystems and Technologies of Agronomic Sectors, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Earth and Universe Sciences, University of Abou Bekr Belkaïd, Tlemcen, 13000, Algeria

*Corresponding Author: Abdelmalek Chaalel, Laboratory of Beneficial Microorganisms, Functional Foods and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis, University of Mostaganem, BP 188, Mostaganem, 27000, Algeria, Email: abdelmalek.chaalel@univ-mosta.dz

Online published on 20 January, 2026.

Abstract

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) has been traditionally used to treat liver disorders and inflammation. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory effects of its ethanolic extract (EET) in a carrageenan-induced inflammation model in Wistar rats.

Twenty male rats were divided into four groups (n=5). Group 1 served as the negative control, while Groups 3 and 4 received a 3% carrageenan intra-dermal injection. Groups 2 and 3 were treated with EET (200 mg/kg body weight) twice daily for seven days. Blood samples were analyzed for antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and inflammatory biomarkers (PGE2, TNF-α).

Carrageenan injection increased malondialdehyde, PGE2, TNF-α, blood glucose and fibrinogen while decreasing albumin, total proteins and antioxidant enzymes, leading to paw lesions. EET treatment significantly restored malondialdehyde (48.14%) and reduced PGE2 (20.95%) and TNF-α (23.75%). It increased albumin (48.48%) and total proteins (44.26%) while reducing blood glucose (47.91%) and fibrinogen (37.93%). Antioxidant enzymes improved (superoxide dismutase 67.58%, catalase 35.04% and glutathione peroxidase 34.40%), with notable lesion repair. These findings confirm the anti-inflammatory properties of T. officinale, suggesting its potential as a natural therapeutic agent for treatment of inflammation.

Keywords

Carrageenan, Inflammation, Inflammatory biomarkers, Taraxacum officinale