EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF CUSCUTA REFLEXA EXTRACTS ON ANIMAL MODELS

Cuscuta reflexa (Roxb.) belonging to the family Convolvulaceae and popularly known as dodder, is a parasitic plant with claims of antibacterial, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties in literature. HPTLC analysis and investigation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Cuscuta reflexa extracts, petroleum ether extract, methanol extract, and aqueous extract of Cuscuta reflexa (PECR, MECR, and AECR respectively) at three dose levels of 50, 200 & 300 mg/kg body weight of an animal by oral route were used for biological activities. The analgesic activity of was determined using hot plate analgesia, acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using models like carrageenan, serotonin and histamine-induced paw edema models along with cotton pellet induced granuloma. Probable mechanism involved in the antiinflammatory effect of methanol and aqueous extracts was evaluated with various tests like ulcerogenicity test; acetic acid induced vascular permeability test and leukocyte migration test using a single dose of 300 mg/kg orally. Acute oral toxicity test revealed the LD50 of >2 g/kg. PECR, MECR and AECR (200 and 300 mg/kg p.o.) significantly (P