In Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antiarthritic Activity of Citrus Limetta Peel

The present study aims on assessing the anti arthritic activity using bovine serum albumin and anti-inflammatory activity using human red blood cell membrane stabilization model. Citrus limetta, commonly known as sweet lime, belongs to family Rutaceae. It is a rich source of flavanoid, d-limonene, alkaloids, steroids, volatile oils and polyphenols. Various extracts of sweet lime peel at different concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800µg/ml) showed the significant ameliorating effect of hypotonic saline induced RBC membrane damage when compared against standard drug aspirin whereas ameliorating effect by inhibiting protein denaturation on bovine serum albumin in vitro model against standard drug diclofenac sodium. Protective effect on heat induced protein denaturation can be used as a tool to study the in vitro anti-arthritic activity whereas protective effect on heat and hypotonic saline-induced erythrocyte lysis is known to be a very good index of anti-inflammatory activity of any agent. The results of the present study revealed that at various concentrations of Citrus limetta peel extracts when subjected to in vitro anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity showed % inhibition to be significant when compared with standard drug. Thus Citrus limetta fruit peel demonstrates a potential anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effect which may be attributed to its anti-oxidant property.