Evaluation of the Anti-nociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Pet: Ether Extract of Portulaca Oleracea (Linn.)

Abstract

To investigate the anti-nociceptive and the anti-inflammatory activities of the petroleum-ether extract of Portulaca oleracea. The petroleum-ether extract of Portulaca oleracea was subjected to a preliminary phytochemical screening. Acute toxicity studies were carried out in Swiss albino mice. The analgesic activity of the petroleum-ether extract of Portulaca oleracea was evaluated by using well established models like acetic acid induced writhing, the formalin test and the tail immersion method in mice. Its acute anti-inflammatory effect was studied by the Carrageenan induced hind paw oedema method in rats. Its phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins and triterpenoids. The acute toxicity studies showed that the extract was non-toxic upto a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. The petroleum-ether extract exhibited significant inhibition of the acetic acid induced writhing, it reduced the paw-licking response time significantly in the formalin test and it increased the withdrawal latency time in the tail immersion test. The Carrageenan induced hind paw oedema was significantly reduced in rats. The present study indicated that the petroleum-ether extract of Portulaca oleracea had potential anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

Keywords

• portulaca oleracea (linn.)
• petroleum-ether extract
• anti-nociceptive
• antiinflammatory