Abstract

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Vernonia pauciflora crude ethanol extract were studied in order to verify the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect. The preliminary phytochemical screening of the leaf extract revealed that it contained cyanogenetic glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes with no trace of alkaloids. The analgesic screening of the extract against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice showed that the plant have a significant dose-dependent antinociceptive  effect, with inhibition of 78.9% at 100mg/kg compared to that of the standard drug ketoprofen at 10 mg/kg which have 83.3%. Anti-inflammatory evaluation on the other hand against carrageenan-induced paw oedema in Swiss albino  male mice showed also a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect with  inhibition of 68.31% when compared to the that of the standard drug ketoprofen at 10 mg/kg with 71.50%. The values obtained in both studies were not significantly different from that of the standard drug. The study showed that the V. pauciflora was effective in pain reduction (analgesia) and a good anti-inflammatory agent, and this supports the claim in traditional medicine.

Key words: Vernonia pauciflora, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, ketoprofen, Carrageenan, acetic acid-induced.