EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA EXTRACTS ON ANIMAL MODELS

Abstract

Cuscuta reflexa (Roxb.) belonging to the family Convolvulaceae and popularly known as dodder, is a parasitic plant with claims of antibacterial, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties in literature. HPTLC analysis and investigation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Cuscuta reflexa extracts, petroleum ether extract, methanol extract, and aqueous extract of Cuscuta reflexa (PECR, MECR, and AECR respectively) at three dose levels of 50, 200 & 300 mg/kg body weight of an animal by oral route were used for biological activities. The analgesic activity of was determined using hot plate analgesia, acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using models like carrageenan, serotonin and histamine-induced paw edema models along with cotton pellet induced granuloma. Probable mechanism involved in the antiinflammatory effect of methanol and aqueous extracts was evaluated with various tests like ulcerogenicity test; acetic acid induced vascular permeability test and leukocyte migration test using a single dose of 300 mg/kg orally. Acute oral toxicity test revealed the LD50 of >2 g/kg. PECR, MECR and AECR (200 and 300 mg/ kg p.o.) significantly (P< 0.05) increased latency against thermal stimulus, decreased the acetic acidinduced writhing responses and licking times of the second phase in the formalin test. Moreover, MECR and AECR (200 and 300 mg/kg p.o.) exhibited significant (P<0.01) antiinflammatory effect against carrageenan and mediator-induced paw edema. The most promising fraction of methanol extract was found to be quercetin, which could be responsible for the biological activity. Results suggest significant analgesic and antiinflammatory effects produced by MECR and AECR.