Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Ethanolic Root Extract of Swertia chirata (Gentianaceae)

Swertia chirata, a Gentian species, can be traced through the medicinal history as a nontoxic and safe ethnomedicinal herb and has been mentioned in medical papyri to expel fever, relieve headache, to draw out inflammation and to stimulate CNS. The ethanolic root extract of Swertia chirata was chosen for pharmacological screening and analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model. The analgesic effect was measured in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and the radiant heat tail-flick method. In rat paw edema model induced by carrageenan, the extract was found to reduce significantly (p<0.001) the formation of edema at the 400 mg/kg dose level and showed 57.81% (p<0.001) inhibition of edema volume at the end of 3 h. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice, the extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses level showed 41.76% (p<0.001) and 58.29% (p<0.001) inhibition of writhing, respectively. In radiant heat tail-flick method, the root extract produced 43.88% (p<0.001) and 64.81% (p<0.001) increase in reaction time 30 min after oral administration at the 200 and 400 mg/kg doses level, respectively. Swertia chirata possesses evident analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The results signify the traditional uses of Swertia chirata, for inflammation and pain.