Preliminary Phytochemical Screenings and Antipyretic, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Methanol Extract of Vernonia cinerea Less. (Fam: Asteraceae)

Aims: The aim of the current study was to undertake phytochemical screenings and evaluate antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of whole plant of Vernonia cinerea Less. (VCME).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for one year in 2012 in the Department of Pharmacy, Southern University Bangladesh, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Methodology: For preliminary phytochemical screenings, the crude methanol extract of V. cinerea was subjected to various tests to determine the chemical nature of the extract. Antipyretic activity was assessed by the yeast-induced hyperthermia in mice. The analgesic property was evaluated by formalin-induced writhing test. Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) was used as standard in in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity test.

Results: Results of the preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and triterpenoids in the extract. In yeast-induced pyrexia, the crude extract demonstrated a significant (p=0.05) reduction of mices’ body temperature after elevation by the administration of yeast. These effects were pronounced at the 2nd and 3rd h post-treatment with the extract. VCME exhibited a dose dependent activity in analgesic activity test with 32.61% and 52.17% protection at the dose of 200 and 400mg/kg, respectively as compared to that 76.09% exhibited by standard diclofenac sodium. In the anti-inflammatory test, the crude extract at the dose of 400μg/ml showed 65.12% inhibition of protein denaturation whereas standard acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) revealed 76.74% inhibition.

Conclusion: These results revealed that V. cinerea may be used in pharmaceutical applications because of its effective pharmacological properties.