EVALUATION OF ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE AND ANTI-PYRETIC ACTIVITY OF AERVA PSEUDOTOMENTOSA LEAVES AQUEOUS EXTRACT

Aerva pseudotomentosa Blatt. & Hallb. (Amaranthaceae) is arid region plant commonly known as Bui. It is used in ethno medicinal practices for the treatment of pain and inflammatory hyperalgesic disorders such as rheumatic pain, fever, inflammation, wounds and urinary disorders. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-nociceptive, antipyretic effects of A. pseudotomentosa leaves aqueous extract. The aqueous extract of A. pseudotomentosa leaves (APAE) was prepared by maceration. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophtometrically. Two dose levels (200 and 400 mg/kg) of the extract were administered by oral route to laboratory mice and rats. Peripheral nociception was induced in rodents using (acetic acid induced abdominal writhing and formalin), supra spinal (hot plate) and spinal (tail immersion) behavioral models of acute pain were used, while the fever was induced by using brewer’s yeast. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated 359.3 mg tannic acid equivalents/g and 248.5 mg quercetin equivalents/g of extract, respectively in aqueous extract. The APAE at dose 400 mg/kg exhibited significant anti-nociceptive effect (p < 0.001) in all tests as well as pronounced antipyretic effect. In conclusion the leaves of A. pseudotomentosa exhibited significant peripheral, central anti-nociceptive effect and antipyretic potential, which substantiates its uses as folk remedies in treatment of inflammatory hyperalgesic disorders.