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Anti-inflammatory Potential of Alpha-Linolenic Acid Mediated Through Selective COX Inhibition: Computational and Experimental Data

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Abstract

The present work investigates the anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) using computational and experimental analysis. The binding affinity of ALA and LA was appraised for cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) using AutoDock 4.2 and AutoDock Vina 1.1.2. Anti-inflammatory activity of ALA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) (55.65 % v/v) and LA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) (55 % v/v) was further assayed using the rat paw edema test against a variety of phlogistic agents including carrageenan, arachidonic acid, prostaglandin, and leukotriene, respectively. ALA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) and LA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) were further tested for their efficacy against complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced (0.05 ml) arthritis in albino rats. Following CFA-induced arthritis, ALA and LA were tested for their inhibitory proficiency against COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX in vitro. The present study commends that the anti-inflammatory potential of ALA could be attributed to COX inhibition, in particular, COX-2.

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Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Arbro Pharmaceuticals, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi, for providing the drugs mentioned in the text as gift sample. RA is receiving SRF from Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India, for pursuing the Doctoral program.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they do not have conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Sciences and Indo-Russian Centre for Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, 211012, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Richa Anand

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Raebareli Road, Vidya Vihar, Lucknow, 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Gaurav Kaithwas

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  1. Richa Anand
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Correspondence to Gaurav Kaithwas.

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Anand, R., Kaithwas, G. Anti-inflammatory Potential of Alpha-Linolenic Acid Mediated Through Selective COX Inhibition: Computational and Experimental Data. Inflammation 37, 1297–1306 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-014-9857-6

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