Mast cell membrane stabilization and anti-histaminic actions- possible mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory action of Murraya koenigii

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate mast cell stabilizing action as a mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory action of Murraya koenigii using experimental paradigms.Materials & Methods: Adult Wistar albino rats were used for mast cell stabilization and carrageenan-induced inflammation protocol.Results: The results demonstrate mast cell stabilization and anti-inflammatory actions of Murraya koenigii in the experimental animals. Compound 48/80, a potent mast cell degranulator, provoked 76% degranulation of mast cells in the control group. Ethanolic extract of M. koenigii (EEMK) at the doses 1, 10, and 100 μg/ml protected from compound 48/80-evoked degranulation (P < 0.01) in dose dependent manner. In the carrageenan-induced inflammation model, EEMK (300 and 400 mg/kg) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. EEMK (300 and 400 mg/kg) showed antihistaminic actions in the histamine-aerosol protocol. The mast cell stabilization and antihistaminic effects of EEMK could be the probable mechanism for its anti-inflammatory action. The LD50 of EEMK was 1131.4 mg/kg, i.p.Conclusion: The results of our study, for the first time, show mast cell stabilizing properties of Murraya koenigii. The anti-inflammatory actions of this plant may be due to its potent mast cell stabilization property. This confirms traditional claims of the plant and therefore the plant can be used to treat asthma. Future strategies should focus on the isolation and molecular mechanism of responsible constituent for mast cell stabilizing action.