Antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Kickxia ramosissima

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology 2016-04, Vol.182, p.90-100
• Main Authors: Jan, Shumaila, Khan, Muhammad Rashid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic Acid; Analgesic; Analgesics - analysis; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - analysis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antipyretic; Antipyretics - analysis; Antipyretics - therapeutic use; Carrageenan; Edema - chemically induced; Edema - drug therapy; Edema - pathology; Female; Fever - chemically induced; Fever - drug therapy; Foot - pathology; Freund's Adjuvant; Hot Temperature; Inflammatory mediators; Kickxia ramosissima; Male; Pain - chemically induced; Pain - drug therapy; PGE2; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - therapeutic use; Phytotherapy; Plant Components, Aerial; Plant Extracts - analysis; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Plantaginaceae; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Saponins - analysis; Saponins - therapeutic use; Terpenes - analysis; Terpenes - therapeutic use; TNF- α
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.02.020

Branched cancerwort, Kickxia ramosissima (Wall.) Janchen (Scrophulariaceae) is traditionally used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatism, diabetes, jaundice and for activation of immune system. Local communities also used this plant for the treatment of spleen enlargement, as febrifuge and in dysmenorrhea. In this investigation antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of K. ramosissima have been evaluated. Dried powder of the whole plant of K. ramosissima was extracted with methanol (KRM) and partitioned with solvents to obtain the n-hexane (KRH), chloroform (KRC), ethyl acetate (KRE), n-butanol (KRB) and the residual aqueous (KRA) fraction. KRM and the derived fractions were analyzed for the phytochemical constituents, yeast induced pyrexia, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities by using carrageenan and Freunds' complete adjuvant-induced paw edema model in rat. On account of appreciable effects of KRM in the aforesaid models, KRM was subjected to the carrageenan induced air pouch model in rat. The exudate of air pouch was analyzed for the count of neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes and WBCs and for the estimation of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PGE2). Phytochemical investigation of KRM indicated the existence of tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, cardiac glycosides, saponins, terpenoids and phlobatannins. Maximum concentration of total phenolic was determined in KRB followed by KRM while reverse was true for total flavonoids contents. KRM (200mg/kg) distinctly decreased the rectal temperature in yeast induced pyrexia comparable to standard, paracetamol. Pain sensation was effectively inhibited at 200mg/kg p.o. of KRM and KRB as manifested by a decrease (P