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Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of mature fresh leaves of Vitex negundo.
- Source :
-
Journal of ethnopharmacology [J Ethnopharmacol] 2003 Aug; Vol. 87 (2-3), pp. 199-206. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- This study confirmed the oral anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antihistamine properties of mature fresh leaves (MFL) of Vitex negundo L. (Verbenaceae) claimed in the Ayurveda medicine by orally treating a water extract of the leaves to rats. The early phase (2h) of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema was significantly (P<0.01) suppressed in an inversely does-dependent (r(2)=1, P<0.01) manner by MFL. The EC(50) was 2g/kg of MFL. In the formaldehyde-induced rat paw oedema test, the 2.5 and 5g/kg leaves significantly (P<0.05) suppressed the inflammation on days 4-6 of the test. In the hot plate test, 2.5 and 5g/kg of MFL showed a significant (P<0.05) and directly dose-dependent analgesic activity at 1h of treatment while the activity was absent in the tail flick test in rats. The EC(50) for the analgesic activity was 4.1g/kg. In the formalin test, 1.25, 2.5 and 5g/kg of MFL significantly (P<0.05) suppressed the pain in both the phases of the test like aspirin. The leaves showed an inversely dose-dependent in vivo antihistamine and in vitro prostaglandin (PG) synthesis inhibition, membrane stabilising and antioxidant activities. Naloxone did not abolish the analgesic activity in the hot plate test. A 5g/kg of MFL did not impair muscle strength and co-ordination and did not induce sedation. The treatment of 5g/kg of MFL did not show signs of acute toxicity or stress. Fourteen-day oral treatment of 5g/kg of MFL significantly increased the serum activity of AST. Flowering of the tree did not abolish the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the leaves. These observations revealed that the fresh leaves of Vitex negundo have anti-inflammatory and pain suppressing activities possibly mediated via PG synthesis inhibition, antihistamine, membrane stabilising and antioxidant activities. The antihistamine activity can produce the anti-itching effect claimed in Ayurveda medicine.
- Subjects :
- Analgesics therapeutic use
Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents therapeutic use
Carrageenan
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
Edema chemically induced
Edema drug therapy
Female
Formaldehyde
Histamine H1 Antagonists therapeutic use
Inflammation drug therapy
Male
Medicine, Ayurvedic
Phytotherapy
Plant Extracts pharmacology
Plant Extracts therapeutic use
Plant Leaves adverse effects
Plant Leaves chemistry
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Vitex adverse effects
Analgesics pharmacology
Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology
Histamine H1 Antagonists pharmacology
Vitex chemistry
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0378-8741
- Volume :
- 87
- Issue :
- 2-3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12860308
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00159-4