EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY OF ECLIPTA ALBA (LINN.) HASSK. IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS.

Dr. Narendrakumar P. Paliwal, Dr. Bhargav M. Purohit , Dr. C.B. Tripathi *, Dr. Hemangini R. Acharya, and Dr. Mahendra K. Patel, M.D.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. (Sanskrit: Bhringaraj) found to contain phytochemicals wadelolactone, eclalbatin, ursolic acid, apigenin, ecliptalbine, verazine and α – amyrin having anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activity of single doses (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of leaves of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. using λ - carrageenan induced paw edema in Wistar albino rats, hot plate; acetic acid induced nociception in Swiss albino mice and gram -ve lipopolysaccharide induce fever in New Zealand white rabbits respectively. Methods: Decrease in the rat paw edema volume by herb compared to “disease control” group (0.1 ml of 1 % λ - carrageenan) was taken as the index of anti-inflammatory activity. Prolongation of reaction time before and after thermal nociception (55-560C) by herb in mice was taken as index of central analgesic activity. Reduction in number of abdominal constrictions produced by acetic acid (0.6% v/v; 10 ml/kg i.p.) in mice by herb was taken as index of peripheral anlagesic activity. Anti pyretic activity was assessed by decrease in gram -ve lipopolysaccharide (0.2 μg/kg i.v.) induced rectal temperature by herb in the pyretic rabbits. Result: Single dose of 500 mg/kg Eclipta alba produce statistically significant anti-inflammatory and almost similar central analgesic activity with disease control and morphine sulphate (5mg/kg s.c.) respectively. The extract did not shown peripheral analgesic and antipyretic activity. Conclusion – Ethanolic extract of leaves of Eclipta alba has anti-inflammatory and central antinociceptive activity.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, disease control, Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.