Combination of Bauhinia monandra extract and laser acupuncture reduces carrageenan-induced paw edema
da Silva Castro AAD, da Costa Junior RC, Laurindo EA, Soares LC, Fernandes TM, Lima NM, Xavier DM, Oliveira MX, Castro SBR, de Souza Alves CC, de Paula Carli A · Lasers in Medical Science · 2026 August 10
DOI 10.1007/s10103-026-04986-2
Objective
To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Bauhinia monandra Kurz alone and combined with laser acupuncture in a carrageenan-induced paw edema model.
Conclusions
Ethanolic extract of Bauhinia monandra Kurz demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, while its combination with laser acupuncture at 200 milligrams per kilogram produced a more consistent reduction in edema and pro-inflammatory cytokines than either treatment alone.
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Insights
Combining Bauhinia monandra extract with laser acupuncture matched dexamethasone in reducing acute inflammation in mice.
Researchers chemically profiled an ethanol-based Bauhinia monandra extract to identify its major compounds, then assessed its safety and ability to suppress nitric oxide production in cultured mouse immune cells. They induced paw swelling in female mice using carrageenan and compared the effects of the plant extract at two doses, laser acupuncture at selected acupuncture points, local laser treatment, and combined extract plus laser acupuncture. Paw swelling and inflammatory cytokines were measured after treatment.
The extract was non-toxic to immune cells and reduced nitric oxide production, consistent with anti-inflammatory activity linked to its phenolic and flavonoid content. In mice, both the extract and laser acupuncture reduced paw swelling, while their combination produced the most consistent suppression of swelling and inflammatory cytokines. The higher extract dose combined with laser acupuncture achieved effects comparable to the corticosteroid dexamethasone.
