Acta Pharm. 57 (2007) 491-498

full paper

Short communication

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of Fumaria indica whole plant extract in experimental animals

CHANDANA VENKATESWARARAO RAO*, ARTI RAJ VERMA, PRAKSH KUMAR GUPTA and MADHAVAN VIJAYAKUMAR

chvrao72@yahoo.com

Pharmacognosy and Ethnopharmacology Division, National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226 001, India

Accepted October 19, 2007

The 50% ethanolic extract of Fumaria indica was investigated for its anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential in animal models. Oral administration of F. indica dry extract (100, 200 and 400 mg kg^-1) exhibited dose dependent and significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute (carrageenean and histamine induced hind paw oedema, p < 0.05) and chronic (cotton pellet granuloma models of inflammation, p < 0.01). The extract (400 mg kg^-1) exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory effects of 42.2 and 42.1% after 3 h with carrageenean and histamine respectively. The same dose of extract showed 38.9% reduction in granuloma mass in a chronic condition. A significant anti-nociceptive activity was evidenced in mice; 6.6–67.7% (p < 0.01) protection in mechanical, 33.9–125.1% (p < 0.05) protection in thermal induced pain and 22.2–73.9% (p < 0.05) protection in acetic acid-induced writhing.

Keywords: Fumaria indica (Fumariaceae), anti-inflammatory activity, anti-nociceptive activity