Preliminary Phytochemical Screening, Analgesic and Anti Inflammatory Activity of Ficus glomerata Fruit Extract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the preliminary phytochemicals, analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of the ethanolic extract of Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae) fruits on Swiss albino mice.

Study Design: The freshly prepared crude extract was qualitatively tested for the identification of preliminary phytochemical constituents. 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight doses were assessed for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities on animal models.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January to June 2015.

Methodology: The analgesic activity was evaluated using formalin induced paw licking test, Eddy’s hot plate method. Carrageenan induced hind paw edema was performed to evaluate anti-inflammatory activity.

Results: Preliminary phytochemical analysis of F. glomerata fruit indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, gum carbohydrates, alkaloids, reducing sugar and terpenoids in ethanolic extracts. In analgesic activity using formalin induced paw licking test, the test and standard drugs significantly (p<.001) reduced the number of licking and biting the hind paw. Analgesic activity studied by hot plate method showed all the test and standard drugs significantly (p<.001) reduced the pain as compare to the control group. Ethanolic extract of F. glomerata significantly (p<.001) inhibited carrageenan induced paw edema.

Conclusion: Our study reveals that F. glomerata fruit extract possess significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and the dose 500 mg/kg body weight is more significant than 250 mg/kg body weight in all of the methods.