Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) extract reduces paw edema by decreasing TNF-A and IL-6 levels in CFA-induced mice

Inflammation is an important immune reaction that the body uses to combat infections and heal tissue injuries. It can, however, cause swelling, discomfort, and cell damage. When tissues are wounded, the body produces inflammatory mediators, which include cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-beta, and IL-8. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has a long history of anti-inflammatory qualities in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study aims to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanol extract of Safflower flowers on male rats which were divided into five groups, namely a dose of 100 mg/kg BW (P1), a dose of 200 mg/kg BW (P2), a dose of 400 mg/kg BW (P3), positive control (KP) and negative control (KN). Testing for anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by inducing the soles of mice’s feet with Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA). The research also investigates its capacity to decrease TNF-α and IL-6, two significant inflammatory markers. The researchers utilized a thickness gauge to determine the reduction in swelling (edema) and an ELISA test to measure the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the mice to assess the anti-inflammatory effects. The results showed that Safflower extract efficiently lowered inflammation, with the greatest reduction in edema found in the group given a 200 mg/kg dose (P2 group). Furthermore, the Safflowerextracts significantly lowered TNF-α(p=0.013) and IL-6 (p=0.001) levels in the P2 group, showing anti-inflammatory effects. Safflower flowers’ ethanol extract has the potential to decrease inflammatory indicators in edema by impeding the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6. This demonstrates that Safflower could be an effective natural anti-inflammatory treatment.