Integrated Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Vivo of Aqueous Extracts and Gels Based on Black Alder and Gray Alder Leaves

INTRODUCTION. Flavonoids contained in many plant species inhibit the induction of cytokines and arachidonic acid metabolites, which are tissue mediators of inflammation, thus exhibiting an anti-inflammatory effect. The leaves of black and gray alder contain flavonoids, phenolic carboxylic acids, tannins and can be considered as a new type of herbal medicinal raw materials.

AIM. Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of decoctions and gels containing the sum of biologically active substances of black alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) and gray alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.) leaves on laboratory animals using various models of inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts of black alder and grey alder leaves, as well as gels containing their alcoholic extracts, was studied in models of generalized and local inflammation induced by the administration of a 1% λ-carrageenan solution to Wistar rats (female and male). The anti-inflammatory effect in generalized inflammation was assessed by blood biochemical parameters (C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, γ-glutamate transferase), in case of local inflammation — by changes in the volume and mass of rat paws.

RESULTS. On the model of generalized carrageenan inflammation, the effectiveness of aqueous extracts of black and gray alder leaves was evaluated on days 4 and 7. It was found that introducing aqueous extracts determines a statistically significant decrease in the specific inflammation indicator — level of C-reactive protein in animals receiving an infusion of black alder and grey alder leaves of intragastric introduction. Using models of local carrageenan inflammation, it was established that under the influence of infusions and gels containing biologically active substances of black and gray alder leaves, there was a statistically significant decrease in the increase in weight and paw diameters compared to control groups. The edema inhibition index (calculated by weight) for the gel containing black alder leaf tincture based on 60% ethyl alcohol was the highest and amounted to 57.95% in females and 56.53% in males, for the gel containing grey alder leaf tincture based on 70% ethyl alcohol — 56.78% in males, 52.02% in females.

CONCLUSIONS. It has been proven the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts from black alder and gray alder leaves in models of generalized and local inflammation. Dosage forms (gels) containing alcohol extracts from the leaves of black alder and gray alder also have an anti-inflammatory effect in conditions of induced local inflammation. Also it has been proven the anti-inflammatory effect of biologically active substances of black alder and gray alder on laboratory animals using models of generalized and local inflammation.

1. Morozov AM, Sorokovikova TV, Zhukov SV, Morozova AD, Ryzhova TS., Muravlyantseva MM [et all.]. Aktual'nye markery vospaleniya v klinicheskoi praktike. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya. 2022;3:142-52 (In Russ.).

2. https://science-education.ru/ru/article/view?id=31653

3. Mahesh G, Ramkanth S, Mohamed Saleem TS. Anti-inflammatory from medicinal plants - а comprehensive review. International Journal of Review in Life Sciences. 2011;1(1):1-10.

4. Hošek J, Šmejkal K. Flavonoids as Anti-inflammatory Agents. Encyclopedia of Inflammatory. 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-0620-6_19-1

5. Azarova OV, Galaktionova LP. Flavonoidy: mekhanizm protivovospalitel'nogo deistviya. Khimiya rastitel'nogo syr'ya. 2012; 4:б1-78 (In Russ.).

6. Mushkina OV, Gurina NS, Krylov AYU Histological characteristics of tissue regeneration in the treatment of experimental planar wounds with gels based on black alder leaves and gray alder leaves Bulletin of the VSMU. 2024: 23 (4):113-122.

7. Mushkina OV, Gurin SA. The effect of extracts from the leaves of gray alder and black alder on the biochemical parameters of blood in generalized inflammation. Bulletin of the Vitebsk State University. 2010; № 5(59): 45-8.

8. Mushkina V. Effect of wound healing in gels containing tinctures е of Alnus glutinosa (L) leaves Clinical Phytoscience, 2021: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-021-00299-9

9. Mushkina OV, Kravtsova-Kukhmar NG, Gurina NS, Shakovets NV, Kidyasova TV The use of phytogel with tincture of black alder leaves in experimental gingivitis. Bulletin of the VSMU. 2022: 21 (3):113-122.

10. Makhmudova OA, Avkhadieva GF, Khaziakhmetova VN, Nikitin DO, Semina II. Experimental study of the anti-inflammatory activity of diclofenac in ultra-low doses on

11. a model of acute carrageenan inflammation. Farmakokinetika i farmakodinamika = Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. 2024;(2):20–25. (In Russ). https://doi.

12. org/10.37489/2587-7836-2024-2-20-25. EDN: GNQFQA

13. Mushkina OV Neklinicheskie metody otsenki farmakologicheskoi aktivnosti rastitel'nogo syr'ya. Minsk: BSMU (In Russ.).