PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVE COMPONENT OF SPATHODEA CAMPANULATA (RAKTURA) FOR THEIR ANTI-ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY

Abstract

S. campanulata, widely distributed in India is traditionally used as astringent, aphrodisiac, purgative, anthelmintic, depurative, febrifuge and expectorant. The plant is also used in rheumatism, dropsy, urinary diseases and jaundice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-arthritic activity of the methanolic extract of the flower of S. campanulata in experimental animal models. The powdered drug was subjected to successive solvent extraction, with solvents in increasing order of polarity to obtain the methanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant. Isolation and characterization of plant extract were performed through UV, IR, NMR and Mass spectroscopy. Characterization approximately conformed the isolated compound was kaempferol. S. campanulata was evaluated for anti-arthritic action by Freund's adjuvant induced arthritis test in adult Albino rats (150-200 gm). Rats were injected 0.1 ml of complete Freund's adjuvant into the planter region of the left hind paw. Statistical analysis was performed using One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferonni test. P less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The methanolic extract of in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg showed 75.50% and 68.33% protection against increase in paw edema, respectively. S. campanulata showed dose-dependent action in all the experimental models.