ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACTS OF Gomphrena celosioides AND Momordica charantia

Abstract

This   study  reports the   anti-inflammatory   and  analgesic  properties  of   aqueous leaf   extracts  of  Gom-        phrena celosioides and Momordica charantia in rats and mice.   Hot plate latency test and acetic acid        induced writhing movement method were used as the model for analgesic evaluation, while the carra-        geenan-induced rat paw oedema was used as the model for anti-inflammatory activity.    The result of        the study revealed that the leaf extracts of the two plants possess anti-inflammatory property as they        were found to significantly (p<0.05) inhibit oedema induced by carrageenan in the rat paws. The leaf        extract of Momordica charantia was also found to significantly (p<0.05) increase the reaction time of        the mice in hot plate test method, while the number of writhing movement of the mice was also signifi-        cantly(p<0.05) reduced in dose-dependent manner. Similar result was observed for mice treated with        extract   of  Gomphrena   celosioides. The  pilot toxicity   study   revealed   the   plants  to   have  appreciable        safety margin, but high dose of Momordica charantia could cause purgation in rats. The results of the        study   suggest   the   anti-inflammatory   and   analgesic   effects   of   the   aqueous   leaf   extracts   of   the   two        plants.