Evaluation of Anti Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activity of Extract of Cucumis Sativus in Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of the ethanolic extract of Cucumis sativus peel (EECS) using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. The extract was obtained as a greenish-brown solid with a percentage yield of 21.5%. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, saponins, and phenolic compounds. Quantitative estimation demonstrated a high total phenolic content (161.05 ± 1.23 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid content (124.26 ± 2.12 mg QE/g), indicating strong antioxidant potential. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity assessed by hypotonicity-induced human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization showed concentration-dependent protection, with 72.97% inhibition of hemolysis at 1000 µg/mL, comparable to diclofenac. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, EECS exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, particularly at 400 mg/kg, reducing paw volume in both acute and repeated administration studies. Repeated administration showed greater inhibition of edema across different time intervals compared to single-dose treatment. Furthermore, cytokine analysis revealed that EECS significantly decreased serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, especially after repeated administration. These findings confirm the immunomodulatory potential of EECS. The study concludes that EECS possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity, possibly mediated through inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators and modulation of cytokine responses, suggesting its potential therapeutic application in inflammatory disorders