Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant activities of Pisonia aculeata: folk medicinal use to scientific approach

CONTEXT

Pisonia aculeata leaves (Nyctagenaceae), a Folk medicinal plant used in the treatment of several inflammation, pain, and oxidative stress associated diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant potential of crude methanol extract of P. aculeata leaves (MEPA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of MEPA (250 and 500 mg/kg) were evaluated using writhing, formalin, hot plate, tail flick, carrageenan-induced paw edema test, and membrane stabilizing activity. Free radical scavenging activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of MEPA were also determined using standard methods.

RESULTS

Oral administration of MEPA showed significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of paw edema, pronounced at 4 h and 5 h after carrageenan injection, and at 200 µg/mL exerts 77.67 and 38.51% protective effect against hypotonic solution and heat induced hemolysis, respectively. MEPA (250 and 500 mg/kg) produced 35.21 and 79.14% inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing. Furthermore, MEPA (500 mg/kg) inhibited 49.19% early and 73.14% late phase of formalin-induced hypernociception. In contrast, a lower dose of MEPA did not prevent hot plate induced nociception, while in the tail immersion method, pronounced analgesic activity was observed between 1 and 4 h postdosing. The extract possesses significant in vitro antioxidant activity and a lipid peroxidation inhibition effect. Total phenolic and total flavonoid content in MEPA were 87.99 ± 0.87 mg GAE/g and 58.98 ± 0.01 mg QE/g, respectively.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our findings confirmed the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Pisonia aculeata leaves. Contents of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in extract could be correlated with its observed biological activities.