Anti-inflammatory activity and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory effect of Peperomia pellucida (L.) kunth extract

Inflammation is an adaptive response underlying a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes mediated by the Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the production of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid and has a crucial role in various pathologies including inflammation, neurological disorders, and cancer. The selective suppression of COX-2 over COX-1 is thought to be a useful approach for treating inflammation. Peperomia pellucida (L.)Kunth has been traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, thus giving scope for anti-inflammatory studies. Since the action of Ethanol extract of Peperomia pellucida (EEPp) on COX-2 has not been previously described, in this study, we further investigated the effect of Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitory effects spectrophotometrically in ELISA readers and evaluated of anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model. The edema volume was measured using a plethysmometer. The results showed that the EEPp (100, 200, and 400mg/kg BW) had significant anti-inflammatory activity and the EEPp demonstrated a COX-2 Inhibitory effect. The percentage of COX-2 inhibition was 10.87%, 47.04%, 56%, and the percentage of inhibition of paw edema was 34.93%, 46.61%, and 64.04%, respectively. These findings suggest that Peperomia pellucida extracts possess promising and remarkable anti-inflammatory activity, which is directed against the enzymatic activity of COX-2.