Evaluation of pharmacological activities of rivea hypocrateriformis in experimental animal models

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the potential pharmacological activities of the ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Rivea hypocrateriformis (EERH) and also their phenolic and flavonoid contents measured. The use of this plant in traditional medicine prompted us to study the antioxidant activity by using in vitro assay of total antioxidant assay, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. In DPPH assay, the IC<inf>50</inf> values of EERH, ascorbic acid and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) were 43.23, 46.70 and 46.61µg/mL respectively. Reducing power of the extracts increased by increasing their concentration. The analgesic activity employed by hot plate and tail flick methods and in vitro and in vivo methods of anti-inflammatory activity by human red blood cell membrane stabilization (HRBC) and carrageenan induced paw edema were screened. Percentage protection of inhibited by 250 µg/mL concentration was more and corresponds to standard diclofenac sodium. In EERH in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight showed 28.57% and 71.42% inhibition of paw edema, respectively at the end of the 4 hours compared to that of standard diclofenac sodium (85.71%). In hot plate and tail flick methods, the ethanolic extract at high dose 400 mg/kg of body weight increased the pain threshold significantly (P < 0.001) after 4 hours of administration and the effect was retained for 6 hours. The EERH shows the dose dependent effect in all the experimental simulations. The results of this study provide pharmacological application of the Rivea hypocrateriformis in pain and inflammatory disorders. © 2015, International Journal of Toxicological and Pharmacological Research. All rights reserved.