Abstract

The crude ethanolic extract of Viola canescens whole plant was evaluated for their analgesic, gastrointestinal motility and preliminary phytochemical profile. The analgesic effect was assessed in mice, using acetic acid induced writhing test at a dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg; the effect on GIT motility was tested in mice using activated charcoal as marker, as due to its black color the distance traveled in intestine was easy to observe. The preliminary phytochemicals constitutes were identified using various qualitative tests. The plant showed dose dependent analgesic effect in compression with standard drug (diclofenac sodium 10 mg/kg); the extracts significantly (p<0.05) inhibited writhing at 100 and 200 mg/kg, while the analgesic effect was none significant at the dose of 50 mg/kg. The percentage analgesic effect of diclofenac sodium was 72.92, while the extract showed 16.92, 47.18 and 65.64% analgesia at the dose of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The analgesic effect of the standard drug was higher than the extract. The ethanolic extract of the plant increased the intestinal motility at dose dependant manner and produced a significant effect at 100 and 200 mg/kg. The percent GIT motility of the extract (200 mg/kg) and standard drug was similar. Various phytochemicals were identified such as carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, flavoniod, alkaloids etc in ethanolic extract of the plant.

Key words: Viola canscens, analgesic, gastrointestinal motility and phytochemical.