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Original
Research Article
Anti-Inflammatory and
Antipyretic Activities of Hygrophila spinosa T.
Anders Leaves (Acanthaceae)
Arjun Patra1*, Shivesh Jha2, P.
Narasimha Murthy3, Aher Vaibhav D.1,
Pronobesh Chattopadhyay1, Ghanshyam Panigrahi3
& Devdeep Roy4
1College
of Pharmacy, IFTM, Moradabad- 244 001, U.P., 2Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institute of
Technology, Mesra-835 215, Ranchi, Jharkhanda, 3Royal
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Berhampur-760
002, Orissa, India, 4Master of
Research Biomedical Sciences, Department of Immunology,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.
E-mail:
arjun.patra@rediffmail.com Tel: +919761459749;
+919359526128
Received:
19
July 2008
Revised accepted:
23
November 2008
Tropical
Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, April
2009; 8(2):
133-137
Abstract
Purpose:
Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders (Acanthaceae) is
commonly used in the traditional system of medicine for
the treatment of inflammation, pain, jaundice,
rheumatism, arthritis, anaemia, etc. In the present
study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and
antipyretic activities of the petroleum ether,
chloroform, alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the leaf
of this plant.
Methods:
The anti-inflammatory activity of the various extracts
was studied based on their effects on carrageenan-induced
paw oedema in rats while antipyretic activity was
evaluated on the basis of their effect on Brewer’s
yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. The extracts were
screened for alkaloids, steroids, proteins, flavonoids,
saponins, mucilage, carbohydrates, organic acids, fats
and oils.
Results:
Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the
presence of alkaloids, steroids, proteins, flavonoids,
fats and oils, tannins, mucilage and organic acids in
the leaves of H. spinosa. Chloroform and alcoholic
extracts of leaves of H. spinosa produced significant (p
< 0.05 and p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory and antipyretic
activities in a dose-dependent manner. On the other
hand, petroleum ether and aqueous extracts did not show
significant
anti-inflammatory and
antipyretic activities. The maximum anti-inflammatory
activities produced by chloroform and alcoholic extracts
(400 mg/kg) were 33.7% and 47.5%, respectively. These
two extracts also reduced elevated body temperature in
rats at 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight doses throughout
the observation period of 6 h.
Conclusion:
Chloroform and alcoholic extracts of H. spinosa leaves
have anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities.
Keywords:
Hygrophila spinosa, anti-inflammatory activity,
antipyretic activity, leaf extracts |
