Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties of Melastoma malabathricum leaves aqueous extract in experimental animals

• Published in: Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology 2006-12, Vol.84 (12), p.1291-1299
• Main Authors: Zakaria, Z.A, Raden Mohd. Nor, R.N.S, Hanan Kumar, G, Abdul Ghani, Z.D.F, Sulaiman, M.R, Rathna Devi, G, Mat Jais, A.M, Somchit, M.N, Fatimah, C.A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic Acid; Analgesics - chemistry; Analgesics - pharmacology; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - chemistry; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - pharmacology; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - therapeutic use; Animals; anti-inflammatoire; anti-inflammatory; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - chemistry; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; antinociceptif; antinociceptive; antipyretic; antipyrétique; aqueous extract; Biological and medical sciences; Carrageenan; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Disease Models, Animal; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - prevention & control; Experimental studies; Extraction (Chemistry); extrait aqueux; Fever - chemically induced; Fever - prevention & control; Folk medicine; Formaldehyde; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Herbs; Laboratory animals; Leaves; Male; Melastoma malabathricum; Melastomataceae; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Observations; Pain - chemically induced; Pain - prevention & control; Pain Measurement; Pain Threshold - drug effects; Pharmacology; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves; Properties; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Shrubs; Time Factors; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0008-4212; 1205-7541
• DOI: 10.1139/y06-083

The present study was carried out to establish the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of the aqueous extract of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in experimental animals. The antinociceptive activity was measured using abdominal constriction, hot-plate, and formalin tests, whereas the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were measured using carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia tests, respectively. The extract, which was obtained after soaking the air-dried leaves in distilled water for 72 h and then preparing in concentrations of 10%, 50%, and 100% (v/v), was administered subcutaneously 30 min prior to subjection to the above mentioned assays. At all concentrations tested, the extract was found to exhibit significant (P < 0.05) antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities in a concentration-independent manner. Our findings that the aqueous extract of M. malabathricum possesses antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activities supports previous claims on its traditional uses to treat various ailments.