Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Tecoma Stans Leaf Extracts

Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae) is used in the treatment of diabetes, stomach pains, rheumatism, diuretic, vermifuge and tonic in traditional medicine. The present study has been design to evaluate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of alcohol and aqueous extracts of Tecoma stans leaves and to determine total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Both extracts shows dose dependent activity. The antinociceptive activity was investigated using hot plate, acetic acid induced writhing and formalin induced paw licking methods. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan induced paw oedema method. Total phenolic and flavonoid content determined using standard chemical methods. Alcohol extract (500 mg/kg) showed highest 76.92% inhibition of inflammation after 24 hrs. Both the extracts produced increased in latency time compared to vehicle but alcohol extract showed highest activity after 150 min in hot plate method (4.63 ± 0.08 sec) and inhibit nocipeptive response in both phase. Extracts also produced significant inhibition of writhing. Content of total phenolic and flavonoid also found more in alcoholic extract. These findings demonstrate that the alcohol leaf extract of Tecoma stans have excellent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity, which may due to presence of higher phenolic and flavonoid content. Key-words: Tecoma stans leaves; antinociceptive; anti-inflammatory; phenolic content; flavonoid content.