Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of blueberry extract (Vaccinium corymbosum)

Blueberries are among the edible fruits that are recognized best for their potential health benefits. The crude extract from Vaccinium corymbosum was assessed in anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive models. The crude hydroalcoholic extract was administered orally at doses of 100, 200 or 300 mg kg (-1) for all the assays. In the carrageenan test, the crude extract reduced rat paw oedema by 9.8, 28.5 and 65.9%, respectively. For the histamine assay, the reductions of oedema were 70.1, 71.7 and 81.9%, respectively. In the myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay, 300 mg kg (-1) crude extract produced a significant inhibition of the MPO activity, at 6 h and 24 h after injection of carrageenan, by 42.8 and 46.2%, respectively. With the granulomatous tissue assay dexamethasone displayed significant activity, whereas the blueberry extract was inactive. For the abdominal constriction test, inhibitions of 49.0, 54.5, 53.5%, respectively, were observed for the crude extract, and 61.4% for indometacin. In the formalin test, the crude extract (200 and 300 mg kg (-1)) and indometacin inhibited only the second phase by 36.2, 35.3 and 45.8%, respectively. Considering that the crude extract of blueberry displayed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity, its consumption may be helpful for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.     

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects of friedelin isolated from Azima tetracantha Lam. in mouse and rat models

Objectives Friedelin was isolated from Azima tetracantha Lam. leaves collected from Kallakurichi, Villuppuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. The anti‐inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of friedelin have been investigated in Wistar rats and mice. Methods Friedelin was isolated from the hexane extract of leaves of A. tetracantha using column chromatography. The effects of friedelin on inflammation were studied by using carrageenan‐induced hind paw oedema, croton oil‐induced ear oedema, acetic acid‐induced vascular permeability, cotton pellet‐induced granuloma and adjuvant‐induced arthritis. The analgesic effect of friedelin was evaluated using the acetic acid‐induced abdominal constriction response, formalin‐induced paw licking response and the hot‐plate test. The antipyretic effect of friedelin was evaluated using the yeast‐induced hyperthermia test in rats. Key findings In the acute phase of inflammation, maximum inhibitions of 52.5 and 68.7% (P < 0.05) were noted with 40 mg/kg friedelin in carrageenan‐induced paw oedema and croton oil‐induced ear oedema, respectively. Administration of friedelin (40 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the formation of granuloma tissue induced by cotton pellet at a rate of 36.3%. In the adjuvant‐induced arthritis test friedelin inhibited 54.5% of paw thickness. Friedelin inhibited acetic acid‐induced vascular permeability in mice. Friedelin also produced significant (P < 0.05) analgesic activity in the acetic acid‐induced abdominal constriction response and formalin‐induced paw licking response. In the hot‐plate test, friedelin did not show any significant results when compared with control. Treatment with friedelin showed a significant (P < 0.05) dose‐dependent reduction in pyrexia in rats. Conclusions The results suggested that friedelin possessed potent anti‐inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.     

Differential sensitivity of antinociceptive tests to opioid agonists and partial agonists.

1. The antinociceptive activity of a range of opioid agonists and agonist-antagonist analgesics was determined in mice by use of the 55 degrees C hot plate and abdominal constriction assays. 2. Opioid agonists were approximately 10 times more effective in the abdominal constriction assay. 3. The agonist-antagonists produced analgesia only in the abdominal constriction assay, and antagonized the antinociceptive action of opioid agonists in the 55 degrees C hot plate test. 4. These differences were shown to be attributable to the different levels of stimulus employed in the two tests. 5. By comparing the antagonist potencies of the agonist-antagonists in the 55 degrees C hot plate test with their antinociceptive ED50 values in the abdominal constriction assay, an index of intrinsic activity was calculated.     

Role of histamine in rodent antinociception.

1. Effects of substances which are able to alter brain histamine levels on the nociceptive threshold were investigated in mice and rats by means of tests inducing three different kinds of noxious stimuli: mechanical (paw pressure), chemical (abdominal constriction) and thermal (hot plate). 2. A wide range of i.c.v. doses of histamine 2HCl was studied. Relatively high dose were dose-dependently antinociceptive in all three tests: 5-100 micrograms per rat in the paw pressure test, 5-50 micrograms per mouse in the abdominal constriction test and 50-100 micrograms per mouse in the hot plate test. Conversely, very low doses were hyperalgesic: 0.5 microgram per rat in the paw pressure test and 0.1-1 microgram per mouse in the hot plate test. In the abdominal constriction test no hyperalgesic effect was observed. 3. The histamine H3 antagonist, thioperamide maleate, elicited a weak but statistically significant dose-dependent antinociceptive effect by both parenteral (10-40 mg kg-1) and i.c.v. (1.1-10 micrograms per rat and 3.4-10 micrograms per mouse) routes. 4. The histamine H3 agonist, (R)-alpha-methylhistamine dihydrogenomaleate was hyperalgesic, with a rapid effect (15 min after treatment) following i.c.v. administration of 1 microgram per rat and 3 microgram per mouse, or i.p. administration of 100 mg kg-1 in mice. In rats 20 mg kg-1, i.p. elicited hyperalgesia only 4 h after treatment. 5. Thioperamide-induced antinociception was completely prevented by pretreatment with a non-hyperalgesic i.p. dose of (R)-alpha-methylhistamine in the mouse hot plate and abdominal constriction tests. Antagonism was also observed when both substances were administered i.c.v. in rats. 6. L-Histidine HCl dose-dependently induced a slowly occurring antinociception in all three tests. The doses of 250 and 500 mg kg-1, i.p. were effective in the rat paw pressure test, and those of 500 and 1500 mg kg-1, i.p. in the mouse hot plate test. In the mouse abdominal constriction test 500 and 1000 mg kg-1, i.p. showed their maximum effect 2 h after treatment. 7. The histamine N-methyltransferase inhibitor, metoprine, elicited a long-lasting, dose-dependent antinociception in all three tests by both i.p. (10-30 mg kg-1) and i.c.v. (50-100 micrograms per rat) routes. 8. To ascertain the mechanism of action of the antinociceptive effect of L-histidine and metoprine, the two substances were also studied in combination with the histamine synthesis inhibitor (S)-alpha-fluoromethylhistidine and with (R)-alpha-methylhistamine, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Differential sensitivity of models of antinociception in the rat, mouse and guinea-pig to mu- and kappa-opioid receptor agonists.

1 A range of opioid receptor agonists were tested for activity in five antinociceptive models: the acetylcholine-induced abdominal constriction, tail-flick and hot plate tests in the mouse and the paw pressure test in the rat and guinea-pig. 2 Agonists acting preferentially at the kappa-opioid receptor were significantly more potent in the guinea-pig than in the rat paw pressure test, whereas mu-receptor preferring agonists were equipotent in the two tests. The mouse abdominal constriction test was of equal sensitivity to the guinea-pig pressure test for both types of agonist. 3 The mouse tail-flick and hot plate tests were progressively less sensitive than the other three tests, particularly to kappa-receptor preferring agonists. 4 The efficacy of an agonist can also markedly affect its activity in antinociceptive tests. Thus, partial kappa-agonists were weak or inactive in the rat paw pressure test, and partial agonists at both mu- and kappa-opioid receptors were relatively weak in the tests in which heat was the noxious stimulus, particularly the mouse hot plate test. 5 The mouse abdominal constriction test is suggested as the most appropriate antinociceptive model for testing a broad range of opioid agonists, whilst the relative potency of a drug in the rat and guinea-pig paw pressure tests may indicate the degree to which it is selective for kappa-opioid receptors in vivo.     

Methanol extract from mycelium of endophytic fungus Rhizoctonia sp. induces antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in mice

The present study aimed to elucidate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the methanol extract from the mycelium of the endophytic fungus Rhizoctonia sp. (MEMRh) in mice. The antinociceptive activity was assessed using the abdominal constriction, hot plate, and formalin tests. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using a murine model of paw edema. Intraperitoneal administration of MEMRh (0.1, 1, 10 and 100?mg/kg, i.p.) produced an inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice for at least 8?h. In addition, all doses tested of the methanol extract were able to prevent thermal nociception in the hot-plate test. Furthermore, treatment with MEMRh (10?mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited both the early and late phases of formalin-induced nociception. This antinociceptive effect exhibited by MEMRh in the formalin test was reversed by the systemic administration of naloxone. MEMRh produced inhibition in a carrageenan-induced edema model at a dose of 10?mg/kg. The same extract also displayed significant activity against a histamine- or PGE(2)-induced edema model. The experimental data demonstrated that MEMRh showed remarkable anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. Further studies are warranted to define and isolate the active anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive components from this endophytic fungus, which may yield effective agents for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.     

Analgesic,anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet activities of the methanolic extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia modesta</Emphasis> leaves

The current study was aimed to evaluate Acacia modesta for analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet activities. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects were assessed in rodents using acetic acid and formalin-induced nociception, hot plate and carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema tests. The intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of the methanolic extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) produced significant inhibition (P < 0.01) of the acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and suppressed formalin-induced licking response of animals in both phases of the test. In the hot plate assay the plant extract (100 mg/kg) increased pain threshold of mice. Naloxone (5 mg/kg i.p.) partially reversed the analgesic effect of the extract in formalin and hot plate tests. A. modesta (100 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) exhibited sedative effect in barbiturate-induced hypnosis test similar to that produced by diazepam (10 mg/kg i.p.). The plant extract (50–200 mg/kg i.p.) produced marked anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema assay comparable to diclofenac and produced a dose-dependent (0.5–2.5 mg/mL) inhibitory effect against arachidonic acid induced platelet aggregation. These data suggest that A. modesta possesses peripheral analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, with analgesic effects partially associated with the opioid system.     

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the ethanolic extracts from Zanthoxylum riedelianum (Rutaceae) leaves and stem bark

We have evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the leaves (LCE) and stem bark (BCE) crude extracts of Zanthoxylum riedelianum (Rutaceae). Different fractions of the stem bark extract (hexane, BCEH; dichloromethane, BCED; ethyl acetate, BCEE; and lyophilized aqueous residual, BCEW) were also investigated. We studied the effects of the extracts and fractions using the rat paw oedema test induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine or nystatin; the mouse abdominal constriction test; the mouse hot-plate test (only for LCE and BCE); and the mouse formalin test. Both extracts and all BCE fractions displayed anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced oedema model, but not for dextran, histamine or nystatin. Considering the analgesic models, both extracts showed antinociceptive activity, but BCE was more active than LCE in models of central pain. All BCE fractions showed significant inhibition in the abdominal constriction test and in both phases of the formalin test. When BCED was submitted to phytochemical procedures it led to the isolation of six lignans (sesamin, methylpluviatolide, dimethylmatairesinol, piperitol-4(')-O-(gamma),(gamma)-dimethylallyl ether, kaerophyllin and hinokinin), and a triterpene (lupeol). Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and its metabolites may have been involved in the mechanism of action of this plant, considering previous studies reporting the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity for the identified lignans, as well as anti-inflammatory activity for lupeol.     

Comparative analgesic activity of various naturally occurring cannabinoids in mice and rats

The analgesic effectiveness of ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a crude marihuana extract (CME), cannabinol (CBN), cannabidiol (CBD), morphine SO⁴ and aspirin following oral administration was directly compared in mice using the acetic-induced writhing and hot plate tests and the Randall-Selitto paw pressure test in rats. THC and morphine were equipotent in all tests except that morphine was significantly more potent in elevating pain threshold in the uninflamed rat hind paw. In terms of THC content, CME was nearly equipotent in the hot plate and Randall-Selitto tests, but was 3 times more potent in the acetic acid writhing test. On the other hand, CBN, like aspirin, was only effective in reducing writhing frequency in mice (3 times more potent than aspirin) and raising pain threshold of the inflamed hind paw of the rat (equipotent with aspirin). CBD did not display a significantly analgesic effect in any of the test systems used. The results of this investigation seem to suggest that both THC and CME possess narcotic-like analgesic activity similar to morphine, while CBN appears to be a non-narcotic type analgesic like aspirin.     

Antinociceptive,antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Putranjiva roxburghii</Emphasis> Wall. leaf extract in experimental animals

The effects of the ether extract from the leaves of Putranjiva roxburghii (P. roxburghii) Wall. were assessed on nociceptive responses in mice by using writhing, hot plate, and formalin tests and the antipyretic activity was determined in yeast-induced fever in rats. Anti-inflammatory activities were also investigated using carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats and croton oil-induced ear and anus edemas. The ether extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) of P. roxburghii dose-dependently produced analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The extract had no significant effect in the hot plate test in mice. At the dose of 400 mg/kg, the extract significantly suppressed the licking activity in the late phase of the formalin test in mice and decreased fever induced by yeast in rats. The extract exhibited moderate inhibitory activity of inflammation in carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats. The extract inhibited croton oil-induced ear edema in a dose-dependent manner (1.25, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/ear) in mice. The extract decreased anus edema induced by croton oil at the high dose of 800 mg/kg in rats. The results indicated that the ether extract of P. roxburghii leaves possesses analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities.     

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the extract of Russelia equisetiformis (Schlecht &; Cham) Scrophulariacae

A methanolic extract of Russelia equisetiformis whole plant was studied for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities in rats and mice using carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, aceticacid-induced writhing and tail-flick test. The extract, at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg, significantly (P <0.05) inhibited carrageenan-induced oedema in rats. Abdominal constriction induced by acetic acid was also inhibited by the extract, within the same dose range. The extract at the same dose also prolonged the latency period in the tail-flick response test, which was reverted by naloxone. The results suggested that the extract possesses potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.     

Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Solanum nigrum chloroform extract in animal models

AIM: The present study was carried out to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of chloroform extract of Solanum nigrum leaves using various animal models. METHODS: The extract was prepared by soaking (1:20; w/v) the air-dried powdered leaves (20 g) in chloroform for 72 hrs followed by evaporation (40 degrees C) under reduced pressure to dryness (1.26 g) and then dissolved (1:50; w/v) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The supernatant, considered as the stock solution with dose of 200 mg/kg, was diluted using DMSO to 20 and 100 mg/kg, and all doses were administered (s.c.; 10 ml/kg) in mice/rats 30 min prior to tests. RESULTS: The extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) antinociceptive activity when assessed using the abdominal constriction, hot plate and formalin tests. The extract also produced significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities when assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia tests. Overall, the activities occurred in a dose-independent manner. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the lipid-soluble extract of S. nigrum leaves possessed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic properties and confirmed the traditional claims.     

Tiagabine antinociception in rodents depends on GABA(B) receptor activation: parallel antinociception testing and medial thalamus GABA microdialysis

The effects of a new antiepileptic drug, tiagabine, (R)-N-[4,4-di-(3-methylthien-2-yl)but-3-enyl] nipecotic acid hydrochloride, were studied in mice and rats in antinociceptive tests, using three kinds of noxious stimuli: mechanical (paw pressure), chemical (abdominal constriction) and thermal (hot plate). In vivo microdialysis was performed in parallel in awake, freely moving rats in order to evaluate possible alterations in extracellular gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels in a pain-modulating region, the medial thalamus. Systemic administration of tiagabine, 30 mg kg(-1) i.p., increased nearly twofold the extracellular GABA levels in rats and increased significantly the rat paw pressure nociceptive threshold in a time-correlated manner. Dose-related significant tiagabine-induced antinociception was also observed at the doses of 1 and 3 mg kg(-1) i.p. in the mouse hot plate and abdominal constriction tests. The tiagabine antinociception was completely antagonised by pretreatment with the selective GABA(B) receptor antagonist, CGP 35348, (3-aminopropyl-diethoxy-methyl-phosphinic acid) (2.5 microg/mouse or 25 microg/rat i.c.v.), but not by naloxone (1 mg kg(-1) s.c.), both administered 15 min before tiagabine. Thus, it is suggested that tiagabine causes antinociception due to raised endogenous GABA levels which in turn activate GABA(B) receptors.     

Enlarging the NSAIDs family: ether, ester and acid derivatives of the 1,5-diarylpyrrole scaffold as novel anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents

The development of the coxib family has represented a stimulating approach in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, such as arthritis, and for the management of acute pains, in relation to the well-known traditional Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (t-NSAIDs). Prompted by the pursuit for new cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, endowed with fine tuned selectivity and high potency, in the past years we have identified novel classes of ether, ester and acid molecules characterized by the 1,5-diarylpyrrole scaffold as potentially powerful anti-inflammatory molecules (12-66). All compounds proved to exert an in vitro inhibition profile as good as that shown by reference compounds. Compounds bearing a p-methylsulfonylphenyl substituent at C5 displayed the best issues. In particular, ester derivatives proved to perform the best in vitro profile in terms of selectivity and activity toward COX-2. The cell-based assay data showed that an increase of hindrance at the C3 side chain of compounds could translate to activity enhancement. The human whole blood (HWB) test let to highlight that submitted compounds displayed 5-10 fold higher selectivity for COX-2 vs COX-1 which should translate clinically to an acceptable gastrointestinal safety and mitigate the cardiovascular effects highlighted by highly selective COX-2 inhibitors. Finally, to assess in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity three different tests (rat paw pressure, rat paw oedema and abdominal constriction) were performed. Results showed good in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. The issues gained with these classes of compounds represent, nowadays, a potent stimulus for a further enlargement of the NSAIDs family. In this review we describe the results obtained by our research group on this topic.     

In vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Rosmarinus officinalis aqueous extracts,rosmarinic acid and its acetyl ester derivative

Abstract

Context: Despite several pharmacological applications of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), studies on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties have been scarce.

Objective: The aim of this work was to use in vivo models to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extracts obtained from leaves (AEL) and stems (AES) of Rosmarinus officinalis, as well as its isolated compound – rosmarinic acid (RA). We also prepared and assessed the acetyl ester derivative of RA.

Materials and methods: The analgesic activity was evaluated using abdominal constriction and formalin tests. For the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects, carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats were used. The extracts were used at doses of 100, 200 and 400?mg?kg^?1 compounds were tested at 10, 20 and 40?mg?kg^?1.

Results: Orally administered AEL, AES and RA were not significantly active at any of the doses tested during the abdominal constriction test; the acetyl ester derivative of RA displayed significant analgesic activity. In the carrageenin-induced paw edema assay, the acetyl derivative of RA at all the tested doses produced significant anti-inflammatory effects and reduced the number of paw licks in the second phase of the formalin test.

Discussion and conclusion: The results suggest that the analgesic effects of the acetyl derivative of RA operate via a peripheral-mediated mechanism. The acetyl ester derivative of RA is potentially applicable as a new lead compound for the management of pain and inflammation.     

Antiinflammatory Compounds from Plagiorhegma dubium Cell Culture1

Successive fractionation of a crude methanolic extract of cultured PLAGIORHEGMA DUBIUM cells, followed by assay of the biological activity using cobra venom factor induced paw oedema, led to the detection and isolation of three compounds with antiinflammatory activity. The substances were identified as the protoberberine alkaloid jatrorrhizine and the lignaneglucosides dehydrodiconiferyl-alcohol-4-beta- D-glucoside and its isomer dehydrodiconiferyl-alcohol-gamma-beta- D-glucoside, the latter a compound not previously described in the literature.     

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities evaluation of (-)-O-acetyl, (-)-O-methyl, (-)-O-dimethylethylamine cubebin and their preparation from (-)-cubebin

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the acetylated (2), methylated (3) and aminated (4) derivatives of cubebin (1), obtained by its reaction with acetic anhydride, methyl iodide and dimethylethylamine chloride, respectively, were investigated, using different animal models. The compound (2) was the most effective anti-inflammatory one in the carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats and was the only one which showed dose-response correlation for this assay with r = 0.993 and Y = 64.58x + 0.22. Besides, compounds (2) and (4) were more effective than cubebin in inhibiting acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, producing dose-response correlation with doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. Regarding the hot plate and the cell migration tests in rats, none of the four tested compounds showed activity. Overall, the results showed that the acetylation and amination of cubebin were efficient in enhancing its analgesic activity, as well as its anti-inflammatory activity.     

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM ACTIVITY OF RHAZYA STRICTA (DECNE) IN MICE

1. The effects of orally administered aqueous lyophilized extract of the leaves of Rhazya stricta (2, 4 & 8 g/kg) on aspects of nervous system function were investigated in mice. 2. In three antinociceptive tests (hot plate, abdominal constriction, and warm water tail flick tests), the extract exhibited dose-dependent and significant antinociceptive activity. Naloxone was ineffective in antagonizing the analgesic effect of Rhazya stricta on tail-flick and abdominal constriction tests, possibly indicating that this effect occurs via non-opiate pathways. 3. Pretreatment of mice with the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes inhibitor cimetidine (50 mg/kg) did not significantly alter the antinociceptive action of the extract, indicating that the effect is probably due to the parent compound(s) present in the extract and not to metabolites thereof. 4. R hazy a stricta produced dose-dependent sedation, decreased motor activity, and impaired motor control. Time spent on a rotarod treadmill was significantly decreased after treatment with the extract. 5. R hazy a stricta extract (8 g/kg) produced a degree of sedation comparable to that produced by diazepam (5–10 mg/kg), and also significantly increased the reaction time of the tail-flick test, an action which was not produced by diazepam. 6. Administration of R. stricta extract potentiated pento-barbitone sleeping time in a dose dependent manner. The extract did not significantly antagonize picrotoxin induced convulsions. The extract (4 and 8 g/kg) significantly decreased the rectal temperature of normothermic and hyperthermic mice. 7. Pretreatment with R. stricta extract (8 g/kg) completely prevented the occurrence of aggressive behaviour in male mice. 8. It is concluded that the crude extract of R. stricta has central nervous system depressant properties.     

Free radical scavengers,anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Acaena magellanica

Extracts of the whole plant Acaena magellanica (Rosaceae) were assessed for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activity in animal models. At 600 mg kg(-1), the global ethanolic extract (GEE), dichloromethane (DCM) and defatted methanol (MeOH) fractions showed a mild anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan-induced guinea-pig paw oedema. The GEE, DCM and defatted MeOH fractions significantly reduced inflammation by 43.2, 40.5 and 42.1%, respectively. The GEE did not showed any significant antipyretic activity in doses up to 600 mg kg(-1). A 20% w/v infusion administered orally at 16 mL kg(-1) presented analgesic effect in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test in mice. The GEE and MeOH extract of A. magellanica showed free radical scavenging activity in the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl decolouration assay. Assay-guided isolation led to quercetin, Q-3-O-beta-glucoside, Q-3-O-beta-D-galactoside, ellagic acid and catechin as the free radical scavengers. The saponins tormentic acid 28-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside and 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the polar extract. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods.     

Antiinflammatory, Analgesic and Antipyretic Activities of Mimusops elengi Linn

In the present study, 70% ethanol extract of Mimusops elengi Linn. bark was assessed for antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities in animals. The antiinflammatory activity of ethanol extract of Mimusops elengi (200 mg/kg, p.o) was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma models. Analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing and Eddy's hot plate models and antipyretic activity was assessed by Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The ethanol extract of Mimusops elengi (200 mg/kg, p.o) significantly inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw oedema at 3rd and 4th h and in cotton pellet model it reduced the transudative weight and little extent of granuloma weight. In analgesic models the ethanol extract of Mimusops elengi decreases the acetic acid-induced writhing and it also reduces the rectal temperature in Brewer's yeast induced pyrexia. However, Mimusops elengi did not increase the latency time in the hot plate test. These results show that ethanol extract of Mimusops elengi has an antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity.