PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO ANALGESIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF JATROPHA CURCAS FRUIT

Objective: To evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the methanolic extract of the Jatropha curcas (MEJC) belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Materials and Methods: Phytochemical screening was done by standard procedures. Acute toxicity studies were done by using female albino mice weighing 23-35 gm as per OECD 425 guidelines. In the hot plate models for analgesic activity, the oral administration of J. curcas extract at the three different doses of MEJC like (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) and the reference drug diclofenac sodium (25 mg/kg) were administered. The control group was taken using normal saline 0.9% NaCl solution. While in the carrageenan-induced paw edema models, the same dosage regimen as per the analgesic activity were followed but the standard drug dose of aspirin is 150 mg/kg. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates, cardiac glycosides. The extract was found to be non-toxic up to the dose of 2000 mg/kg after the acute toxicity test. In analgesic all the three doses of MEJC i.e. 100mg/kg (9.33 ± 0.33 sec), 200 mg/kg (10.67 ± 0.88 sec) and 400 mg/kg (11.33 ± 0.88) significantly increases in the jumping time in the hot plate as compared to control ( 4.33 ± 0.33) (p-value <0.0001). The result is also quite satisfying when compared with the standard drug at 25 mg/kg (13.33 ± 0.33). And anti-inflammatory activity it shows inhibition of edema MEJC i.e. 100 mg/kg (0.71 ± 0.03), 200 mg/kg (0.7 ± 0.03), 400 mg/kg (0.6 ± 0.03) which is comparable with the standard drug aspirin 150 mg/kg (0.53 ± 0.02). Conclusion: This result suggests that the fruits of Jatropha curcas has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties comparable with those of standard drugs and may be useful for the treatment of painful inflammatory conditions.