PHYTOPHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PERGULARIA DAEMIA AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT

  The whole-plant, Pergularia daemia (Family: Asclepediaceae), extract (50% alcohol) was investigated for phytochemical, physico-chemical parameters and its anti-inflammatory activity. Preliminary organic analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoid, steroid, triterpenoid and phenolic compounds in the extract. Physiochemical studies revealed that total ash is 13.62%, acid insoluble ash is 1%, alcohol soluble extractive value is 17.6%, water soluble extractive value is 30.4% and loss on drying at 105°C is 10.6%.  The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema (acute inflammation) and chronic models like; cotton pellet granuloma and carrageenan air pouch granuloma. Oral administration of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute and chronic models (p < 0.01) of inflammation. In conclusion, present investigation established specific identities that will be useful in identification and authentication of the raw drug and pharmacological evidences to support the folklore claim that P. daemia is used as anti-inflammatory agent.   Key words: Pergularia daemia, physicochemical, carrageenan, cotton-pallet