Analgesic activity of aqueous and alcohol root extracts of shoots of Dendrophthoe falcata

Abstract

Dendrophthoe falcata (Loranthaceae) is used in Ayurveda for the treatment of inflammation, pulmonary tubercu- losis, asthma, menstrual disorders, swelling wounds, diseases of vata and kapha. It is known as Badanika and Samharsa in Sanskrit. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic activity of the aqueous and al- cohol shoot extracts of Dendrophthoe falcata using eddy’s hot plate and heat conduction method. In eddy’s hot plate method the aqueous extract showed significant analgesic activity at the doses of 500 mg/kg (p<0.01) and 1000 mg/kg (p<0.001) and alcohol extract showed significant analgesic activity at the doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg (p<0.001). In heat conduction method both extracts showed significant analgesic activity at the doses of 500 & 1000 mg/kg (p<0.001) as compared to control group, when analyzed statistically by Tukey Kramer Multiple Comparison Test. The result obtained show that the aqueous and alcohol shoot extracts of Dendrophthoe falcata. Possesses significant analgesic activity which confirms the traditional claims of the plant mentioned in Ayurveda.