Anti-inflammatory effects of nano ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate prepared from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga L. in experimental models

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ethyl-pmethoxycinnamate (EPMC) and its nanoformulation (EPMC-nano), prepared from the rhizomes of Kaempferia galanga L., using experimental inflammatory models. EPMC was isolated from K. galanga rhizomes with a purity of >97% and formulated into nanofibers by electrospinning using a chitosan/polyethylene glycol/polylactic acid polymer matrix. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through an acute oral toxicity test, carrageenan-induced acute peritonitis model, cotton pellet-induced chronic granuloma model, and an in vitro bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein denaturation inhibition assay. The results showed that neither EPMC nor EPMCnano caused mortality or significant signs of toxicity at doses up to 5,000 mg/kg. In the acute inflammation model, EPMC and EPMC-nano at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced total leukocyte counts (38.49 and 38.68%, respectively), neutrophil counts (36.48 and 38.63%, respectively), and protein concentration in inflammatory exudates compared with the control group (p<0.05). In the chronic inflammation model, both formulations reduced granuloma mass, with EPMC 200 mg/kg and EPMC-nano 200 mg/kg showing marked inhibitory effects. In the in vitro assay, EPMC and EPMC-nano inhibited protein denaturation with IC₅₀ values of 40.35 and 49.03 µg/ml, respectively. These findings demonstrate that both EPMC and EPMC-nano exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in acute and chronic inflammation models; however, EPMC-nano did not show a clear advantage over free EPMC under the current experimental conditions.