Abstract
THE ANTI-EDEMA EFFECT OF ERUCA SATIVA SEEDS

In Sudan, Eruca sativa seeds are used by traditional herbalists for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and claimed to have good therapeutic benefits; nonetheless, it did not receive scientific attention by Sudanese investigators. Objective to evaluate the anti-edema effect of Eruca sativa seeds as an indicator of its anti-inflammatory activity in induced paw edema model. Twenty adult Wistar albino rats were subdivided into four equal groups (N =5 rats for each) and injected with 0.1 ml of formalin 1% in the sub-planter area of the rats' left paw. Edema formation (EF%) and anti-edema inhibition (EI%) percentages were measured 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 24 hours after oral administration of 5 ml/kg normal saline, 5 mg/kg indomethacin, 400 and 800 mg/kg of Eruca sativa seeds ethanolic extracts in the respective four groups. Multiple comparisons of EI% were assessed in different groups using Dunnett’s test. Maximum EI% was achieved 24 hours (83.60%) and 4 hours (93.12%) after oral administration of 400 and 800 mg/kg of Eruca sativa seeds ethanolic extract respectively. The mean of EI% of indomethacin (64.00%) was significantly less compared to Eruca sativa seeds ethanolic extract at a dose of 400 (66.75%) as well as 800 mg/kg body weight (67.91%) (P < 0.05). Eruca sativa seeds ethanolic extract offers dosedependent sustained anti-edema effects better than indomethacin.