Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Methanolic Root Extract of Verbascum sinaiticum Benth

INTRODUCTION

Pain in its various forms is undoubtedly the most common ailment known to human beings. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioid analgesics are widely used to treat pain. However, long-term use of NSAIDs and opioids causes serious adverse effects on various organs. As a result, looking for drugs with better efficacy and lesser adverse effects appears crucial. For this purpose the obvious search begins from traditional medicines, particularly herbs. Therefore, this study investigated analgesic and anti- inflammatory activity of 80% methanol root extract of Verbasicum sinaiticum Benth (VS) in vivo.

METHODS

The dried and crushed plant material was macerated with 80% methanol sequentially and dried with lyophilizer. As per the acute toxicity study conducted elsewhere, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg doses of extract were used in the acetic acid induced writhing, hot plate test, as well as carrageenan and formalin induced anti-inflammatory models. As a positive control, aspirin 150 mg/kg was used for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory model and morphine 10 mg/kg was used for central analgesic models.

RESULTS

VS200 and VS400 doses of the extract significantly (p< 0.05) reduced acetic acid induced writhing as compared with the control group. Similarly in hot plate test also, both VS200 and VS400 groups demonstrated significant (p< 0.05 at 30 min and p< 0.001 at 60 and 120 min) analgesic effect in comparison with the control and VS100 groups. Furthermore, in carrageenan and formalin induced anti-inflammatory test both VS200 and VS400 were shown to produce significant (p< 0.05) anti-inflammatory effect at the later hours and days.

CONCLUSION

The findings from this study suggest that 80% methanol root extract of V. sinaiticum possesses peripheral and central analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory activity, possibly emanating from the phytochemicals present in the hydroalcoholic crude extract.

Evaluation of Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Hydroalcoholic Leaf Extract of Clematis simensis Fresen (Ranunculaceae)

Introduction

Clematis simensis is one of the most widely used medicinal plant for the treatment of wound traditionally. However, its claim was not scientifically tested, the current study therefore assessed the anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of 80% methanol leaf extract of C. simensis.

Methods

The dried and powdered leaf of C. simensis was macerated with 80% methanol. The topical ointment was then made in two concentrations (5% and 10% w/w), and two models, excision and incision, were used to test the extract's capacity to treat wounds in mice. In addition, anti-inflammatory test was also conducted using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model in three doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) in rats. The DPPH test was used to determine the extract's anti-oxidant properties where ascorbic acid was used as standard agent.

Results

When wounds were treated with ointments containing 5% and 10% (w/w) extract, the rate of wound contraction, the length of time it took for the epithelium to form, and the strength of the skin to break were all significantly increased (p < 0.05). There was no discernible difference in wound healing activity between the 10% (w/w) and 5% (w/w) extracts. Moreover, they had also similar impact as that of the positive control nitrofurazone in wound healing activity. Compared to the negative control, C. simensis extract considerably (p < 0.01-p < 0.001) reduced inflammation. The extract also demonstrated antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 0.7 mg/mL for the extract and 1.04 mg/mL for ascorbic acid, respectively.

Conclusion

Overall, it is plausible to draw the conclusion that C. simensis 80% methanol extract possesses wound healing activity, perhaps as a result of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.