Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Amaranthus tricolor L

Amaranthus tricolor Linn. (FamilyAmaranthaceae) popularly known as Joseph’s coat in English. The plant has been used as hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic in Indian system of traditional medicine. In present study the hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of Amaranthus tricolor L. (HAEAT) 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight was studied for anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in various animal models. Anti-nociceptive activity was carried out by using acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test and hot plate test in mice. Anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by using carrageenan induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma tests in rats. The results suggested that HAEAT showed significant anti-nociceptive activity in acetic acid induced writhing model but not in hot plate model which reveals that anti-nociceptive activity of HAEAT is of the type produced by non-narcotic analgesics and anti-inflammatory activity was observed in both models. In carrageenan induced rat paw edema model the extract was found to exhibit a significant reduction in paw volume in late phase (3 to 5 h) and in cotton pellet induced granuloma model HAEAT decreased the increase in weight of cotton pellets. The observed pharmacological activities may be due to presence of phytochemicals like flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, etc present in extract.