ANALGESIC AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF DESMODIUM OOJEINENSE(ROXB.)H.OHASHI

  The study was aimed to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanolic extract of Desmodium oojeinense(Roxb.) in experimental rats. Analgesic activity was evaluated using acetic acid induced writhing method, while anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced rat paw oedema model. Various doses of ethanolic extract of the plant (100, 200, 400 mg/kg body weight) were tested for its analgesic activity and anti-inflammatory activity and the results were compared with the standard drug aspirin and diclofenac sodium respectively. Results indicate that the ethanolic extract of the plant significantly inhibited writhing movements in analgesic activity and carrageenan induced hind paw oedema in anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. The results suggest that there exists a potential benefit in utilizing Desmodium oojeinense(Roxb.) in treating conditions associated with pain and inflammation. Key Words: Desmodium oojeinense (Roxb.), analgesic, anti-inflammatory, carrageenan.