Analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies of the methanol extract of Globimetula braunii (Loranthaceae) growing on Terminalia catappa Linn (Combretaceae)

This study was carried out to investigate the phytochemical constituents, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of methanol stem extract of Globimetula braunii. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done using standard protocols, median lethal dose (LD50) was determined by Lorke’s method. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of extract were determined using acetic acid induced writhing and hot-plate model and the carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema model respectively at graded doses of 1000 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 250mg/kg. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroid, triterpenes and saponins. Intraperitoneal median lethal dose of the extract was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg bodyweight in mice. The extract exhibited highest percentage inhibition of writhing (99.24%) at a dose of 1000 mg/kg. However, the extract showed no central analgesic activity. Furthermore, the extract at lowest and highest dose (250 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) reduced paw size when compared to control group. The findings of this study suggest that the methanol stem extract of Globimetula braunii contains bioactive compounds with peripherally mediated analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity.