Abstract

The effect of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the whole plant of Hybanthus enneaspermus Muell (Violaceae) on freund’s adjuvant induced arthritis was evaluated. The percentage of yield was found to be 12.8 and 10.6% for alcoholic and aqueous extracts respectively. Both the extracts significantly (p < 0.001) decrease the paw thickness at the end of 30 days treatment. Though in acute phase inflammation both of them show the same potency in chronic phase alcoholic extract exhibit more potency than the aqueous extracts. At the end of the studies the alcoholic extract shows more pronounce effect (59.4%) as comparable to aqueous extract (57.4%). The phytochemical analysis revels the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, carbohydrates and tannins in the extracts. The increase in body weight was observed in tested animals as comparable to the control. This result support the folkore use of this plant against the inflammmatory conditions like arthritis.

Key words: Hybanthus enneaspermus, adjuvant induced arthritis, whole plant, acute and chronic phase inflammation, body weight.