Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Chloroform and Methanol Extracts of Centella asiatica Linn

A variety of active constituents with wide range of pharmacological actions have been reported with Centella asiatica. The present study was undertaken to assess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of its leaf extracts. Dried leaves were defatted with petroleum ether and extracted with chloroform and methanol. Both chloroform and methanol extracts were evaluated for analgesic activity through tail clip, tail flick, tail immersion, and writhing assay tests at doses of 50, 100, and 200？mg/kg using Swiss albino mice. On the other hand, anti-inflammatory assay was performed by carrageenan induced paw edema of methanol extract at 100 and 200？mg doses in Wistar albino rat. Dextropropoxyphene and indomethacin were employed as a standard for analgesic and anti-inflammatory studies, respectively. Our present study demonstrated that Centella asiatica bears significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in those models. 1. Introduction Human beings have relied on natural products as a resource of drugs for thousands of years. Plant-based drugs have formed the basis of traditional medicine systems that have been used for centuries in many countries such as Egypt, China, and India [1]. Today plant-based drugs continue to play an essential role in health care. It has been estimated by the World Health Organization that 80% of the population of the world rely mainly on traditional medicines for their primary health care [2]. Currently, at least 119 chemicals, derived from 90 plant species, can be considered as important drugs in one or more countries [3]. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most commonly used drugs to treat pain and inflammatory conditions [4]. But they have common side effects like ulcer, bleeding, and renal disorders [5]. Therefore, medicinal plants are the common source of therapeutically active chemical substances with lesser side effects [6]. Centella asiatica belongs to the family Apiaceae and is commonly found in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Centella has been used in traditional medicine in Asia for 100 years [7]. The major bioactive constituents are triterpene saponins mainly asiaticoside, sapogenin, asiatic acid, madecassoside, and madecassic acid [8]. It is believed to have beneficial effects in improving memory and treating mental fatigue, anxiety, and eczema [9]. In Ayurveda, Centella is effectively used in the treatment of inflammation, anaemia, asthma, blood disorders, bronchitis, fever, urinary discharge, and splenomegaly [10]. The aqueous extract of Centella possesses antioxidant, cognitive