Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-lipid peroxidation studies on stem bark of Ficus religiosa Linn .

Abstract

The methanol extract of the stem bark of Ficus religiosa Linn., The Peepal tree, was screened for its anti-inflammatory activity in Wistar albino rats and analgesic effects in Swiss albino mice. A significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema, comparable to that produced by indomethacin, the standard anti-inflammatory drug, was obtained with all the three doses of the extract, tested in the present study. A significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice was observed with two doses of the extract. The analgesic effect was comparable to that caused by the standard drug, aspirin. The methanol extract also showed significant anti-lipid peroxidant