Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory and Diuretic Activity of Methanol Extract of Flacourtia indica

Abstract

The present study was aimed at investigating the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and diuretic activities of methanol extract of Flacourtia indica (FIM). Administration of FIM, by gavage, at doses of 125 or 250 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the number of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice by 29.78 and 44.12%, respectively, as compared to that of 66.18% inhibition by the positive control aminopyrene. FIM significantly reduced the volume of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema after 1 to 4 h, with maximum inhibitory effect observed after 3 hour (41.09 and 45.00% at doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight, respectively), of carrageenan administration. The inhibitory effect of FIM was comparable to that of the positive control phenylbutazone. Pre-incubation of human keratinocyte HaCaT cells with FIM (25 or 50 μg/ml) decreased ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt. Intra-gastric administration of FIM at 125 and 250 mg/kg body weight to mice markedly increase the urine volume showing good diuretic activity as compared to standard diuretic drug furosemide. The observed analgesic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic activity of FIM support the use of the Flacourtis indica in traditional medicine.