PHTYOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PODAPATRI (GYMNEMA SYLVESTRE)

In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the aqueous extract of gymnema sylvestre whole plant was investigated. The aqueous extracts of gymnema sylvestre whole plant  were ingested orally (p.o.) in  two different doses, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight). The anti-inflammatory effect of gymnema sylvestre  was tested in: carrageenin-induced paw oedema in wistar albino rats and  compared with the standard, diclofenac (10 mg/kg body weight). The analgesic effect was evaluated inSwiss albino mice by Eddyfs hot plate method and compared with the standard, aspirin (25 mg/kg body weight). The results showed that gymnema sylvestre has significant reduction (p.0.01) in inflammation (200 mg/kg body weight) and (400 mg/kg body weight) as compared to the standard drug, indomethacin,. In assessing analgesic effects, there is a significant (p<0.01) reduction in the paw licking  for  (400 mg/kg) and diclofenac (10 mg/kg) when compared to control. These results indicate that the extracts could possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. All these effects and the changes in the behavioural activities could besuggested as contributory effects to the use of gymnema sylvestre whole plant in the management of inflammation and painful conditions.

Keywords: gymnema sylvestre, Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic, Indomethacin,