Studies on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Cassia sophera roots

ObjectiveTo probe the traditional medicinal claims about anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of Cassia sophera Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) (C. sophera) through scientific methodology.MethodsThe analgesic activity of root methanol extract of C. sophera was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing, hot-plate and formalin-induced paw licking tests. Carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton-pellet edema models were used to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extract of C. sophera root. The methanol extract of C. sophera root was administered at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg.ResultsIn acetic acid-induced writhing model, methanol extract of C. sophera root showed significant activity at all doses with maximum inhibition of 76.29%. Methanol extract of C. sophera root exhibited marked inhibition of pain stimuli with latency of (12.28 ± 4.60) s in hot-plate test. The methanol extract of C. sophera root significantly reduced licking time at all doses with maximum reduction in licking time (30.6 ± 3.1) s in late phase of paw licking in formalin-induced paw licking test. The methanol extract of C. sophera root showed highly significant results in carrageenan-induced paw edema model with maximum protection (65.75%) from edema. A significant inhibition of granuloma formation was observed in cotton-pellet edema model with maximum inhibition (57.37%) of granuloma.ConclusionsThe significant inhibitory effect on peripheral and central pain stimuli; marked edema reduction and granuloma inhibition justified the ethnomedicinal use of C. sophera in the management of pain and inflammation.