Qualitative Phytochemical Screening and Anti-Inflammatory Evaluation of Aerial Part Extracts of Medicago laciniata (L.) Mill

Abstract

Inflammation is a live tissue's immunological reaction to an allergen or injury to a bodily component. The majority of anti-inflammatory medicines are synthetic, and long-term usage of these medications can have serious side effects and harm the human biological system. Medicago laciniata, sometimes known as cutleaf medick traditionally used as an abortifacient, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antidiabetic. The goal of this study was to scientifically document the anti-inflammatory activity of the aerial portions of Medicago laciniata. For this purpose, extraction was carried out using solvents ethyl acetate and n-hexane. The preliminary phytochemical screening was performed to check the presence of important secondary metabolites followed by applying the carrageenan-induced edema hind paw method to test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of both extracts. The result showed the presence of secondary flavonoids steroids, terpenoids, saponins, and tannins. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity showed that after five hours, the maximum reduction of 70.90% and 69.29% were observed for ethyl acetate and n-hexane extracts respectively, each at a dose of 100 mg/kg, respectively. This study suggests that Medicago laciniata has an excellent ability to protect against inflammation due to the presence of secondary metabolites.