Abstract

Objective: To examine the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. (X. sagittifolium) leaves. Methods: The fresh leaves of X. sagittifolium were extracted with methanol followed by fractionation using ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), n-hexane fraction, chloroform fraction and aqueous fraction. The analgesic activity was determined by acetic acid-induced writhing test and tail immersion test using Swiss albino male mice. Carrageenan-induced paw edema test was used to resolve the anti-inflammatory activity using Wistar albino male rats. Results: The results displayed that among these four samples, EAF had maximum analgesic efficacy (P < 0.001) measured by acetic acid-induced writhing test (71.37%). In case of tail immersion test, EAF also exerted maximum activity (5.03 s, P < 0.001) at 180 min compared to n-hexane fraction, chloroform fraction and aqueous fraction at maximum concentration. In case of anti-inflammatory test, EAF remained ascendancy in its activity (P < 0.001) and it inhibited 72.92% of paw edema at maximum concentration at 180 min with respect to remaining fractions. Conclusions: The above evidences suggest that EAF of X. sagittifolium leaves is a potential source of natural compounds having analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.

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