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Abstract

Inflammation is a complex biological response that plays a crucial role in the body's defense mechanism. However, chronic inflammation is implicated in various diseases. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanolic fruit extract of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (Synonym:-sea buckthorn) through an integrated approach involving in-silico molecular docking, in-vitro bioassays and in-vivo evaluation. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, saponins, carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, phytosterols, triterpenoids, fixed oils, and carotenoids. UV-visible spectral analysis identified key bioactive compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, β-sitosterol, and lycopene. In-silico docking analysis revealed that the flavonoids and phenolic acids exhibited strong binding affinity towards COX-2, indicating selective inhibition, which may offer a safer alternative to conventional NSAIDs. In-vitro anti-inflammatory assays, including the egg albumin denaturation, HRBC membrane stabilization and COX-2 inhibition assays, demonstrated significant inhibition, comparable to standard drugs like Diclofenac and celecoxib. In-vivo studies using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model in albino rats confirmed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. The percentage inhibition of edema after 4 hours was 57.57% for Diclofenac, 48.48% for the 250 mg/kg extract, and 54.54% for the 500 mg/kg extract.
The above findings suggested that Hippophae rhamnoides L. possesses significant anti-inflammatory properties, primarily through COX-2 inhibition, making it a promising medication for natural anti-inflammatory drug development.