Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Fruit Extract of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb) on Laboratory Animals

Abstract

Aim of Study: This study was aimed to evaluate the possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanol extract of fruit of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb). Study Design: Assessment of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between June 2012 and March 2013. Methodology: The crude ethanol extract was investigated for the anti-inflammatory effect on Long Evans rats using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. For anti-inflammatory study, 20 rats were divided into 4 different groups, each receiving either distilled water, standard drug or the extract at the doses of 250 and 500mg/kg body weight (BW). The analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing method in Swiss albino mice divided into 4 different groups (control, standard and extract at two different doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW). Results: The results of preliminary phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides in significant amounts. The results of anti inflammatory activity study showed that the fruit extracts at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema in Long- Evans rats. Both the extracts were able to show a dose dependent anti-inflammatory activity as compared to diclofenac sodium used as a standard drug. The extract elicited a highly significant (p<0.001) analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner on hot plate method, acetic acid-induced writhing test. In the hot plate method, the extract increased the reaction time of heat sensation to 94.71% and 82.7% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW while that of the standard drug was 61.45% at the 3rd hour of study. In acetic acid induced writhing test, the percent inhibition of writhing response by the extract was 50.57% and 59.77% at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the ethanol fruit extract of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb) may be due to the presence of various chemical constituents especially flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids or terpenoids. These experimental findings would further establish the scientific basis of the traditional uses of the plant in the management of inflammatory conditions as well as control of pain.