Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of methanolic leaf extract of Indigofera cassioides Rottl. Ex. DC.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of methanolic leaf extract of Indigofera cassioides (I. cassioides) (MEIC) using various animal models. MethodsAnti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of MEIC was assessed by using different animal models. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extract was evaluated by using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma method. Anti-nociceptive activity of the extract was evaluated for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions by using Eddy's hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing respectively. The study was carried out using dose of 200 & 400 mg/kg orally. Aceclofenac, aspirin and pentazocine was used as standard drugs to evaluate anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, respectively. ResultsTreatment with MEIC significantly (P<0.001) decrease the paw volume and weight of cotton pellet in the tested models. It also exhibit potent analgesic activity on chemical and thermal induced pain in mice. MEIC exhibit potent and dose dependent anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in all the tested animal models. ConclusionsAll the results obtained revealed that the extract MEIC showed potent anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity against all the tested models and the results obtained were comparable with the standards used. The activity of the extract may be due to the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids and other phytochemicals.