Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Leaf Extracts of Ethnomedicinal Plant

The methanolic and aqueous extracts of Kleinia grandiflora (Asteraceae) leaves were investigated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in albino rats. The analgesic effect was studied using tail immersion test and the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using carrageenan induced paw edema test. All the extracts (200 and 400 mg kg(-1) body weight) were found to significantly (P<0.001) inhibit the nociception induced by tail immersion in hot water (55 +/- 1 degrees C) and paw edema induced by carrageenan in a dose dependent manner compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium (10 mg kg(-1)). In the carrageenan induced paw edema model, a significant reduction in edema volume (P<0.001) was observed after 2 hours of drug administration. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, tannins, coumarin, phenol and alkaloids. This study has provided some justification for the folkloric use of the plant in several communities for conditions such as earache, pain and inflammations.