Inhibition of COX-2 and iNOS in rabbit whole blood ex vivo by different extracts of Eucomis bicolor

Medicinal use of Eucomis bicolor (Hyacinthaceae) has a long tradition in the medicine of the South African native population. Prepared decoctions from shaved bulbs and leaves in boiled water have been used in treatment of pain and fever, as enema and as a potion to clean the blood. Several studies have described the COX-1 inhibitory activity of different Eucomis species [1]. The aim of our investigation was to study other effects of some Eucomis extracts, so we tested aqueous and ethanolic extracts for its impact on cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). For this purpose, blood samp…