O-Carboxymethylated chitosan; A promising tool with in-vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties in albino rats.

In the present study chitosan derivative, O-carboxymethylated chitosan (O-CMC) was synthesized by simple and cost-effective technique and scrutinized for in-vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. Na-carboxymethyl intermediate was prepared by acidification of chitosan with monochloroacetic acid and neutralized with 0.5 M NaOH which was further converted into O-CMC by using 0.2 M HCl. Resulted O-CMC was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Inflammation was induced in albino rats by carrageenan and anti-inflammatory property of synthesized O-CMC was confirmed by calculating paw volume, %age inflammation and %age inhibition of inflammation. Analgesic properties were confirmed by %age analgesia and latency time. The results revealed that the synthesized O-CMC derivative of chitosan showed stretched peaks at 2891 cm, 1631 cm, 1060 cm of -OH, -NH and -CO respectively. Formulation V was optimized due to its of percentage inflammation, 45.5 ± 0.02% inhibition of inflammation and decrease in paw volume, as well as a positive control on % age analgesia and latency time as compared to chitosan by applying statistics. O-CMC may be considered a remarkable anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent which may provide adjunctive effect with other active pharmaceutical ingredients.