Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Wulfenia Amherstiana

Abstract

In order to search for new resources of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agents, the study was to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of ethanolic extract and fractions of Wulfenia amherstiana (W.amherstiana) belonging to family Scrophulariaceae. Phytochemical screening was performed through standard procedures indicated the presence of flavonoids, steroids, saponin, phenols, tannins, glycosides and triterpenoids. Antinociceptive activity of the plant was evaluated by chemically induced writhing behavior and hot plate thermal nociception in mice model.Ethanolic extract and different fractions of this plant were also subjected to assess its anti-inflammatory potential at these doses in carrageenan paw edema model in mice. The ethanolic extract at 200 mg/kg and chloroform fraction at 300 mg/kg doses demonstrated significant antinociceptive response (reduction in the number of writhing induced by acetic acid) i.e.54 and 56.30 %, respectively,compared to diclofenac sodium (at a dose of 50mg/Kg) as 62 % (P < 0.001). Similarly, an increase in the hot plate latency time observed in case of ethanolic extract was at doses of 200 mg/Kg (15.40 ± 0.75) & 300 mg/Kg (16.50 ± 1.23) revealing its antinociceptive potential greater than its fractions. The results demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory potential associated with this plant. Ethanolic extract, chloroform and n-hexane fractions at 200 and 300 mg/kg doses produced significant anti-inflammatory responses at h 1-5 (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), respectively. The study imply that ethanolic extract along with the chloroform and n-hexane fractions might be containing the active molecules which are responsible for the biological activities.