EXTRACTION, PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND IN VIVO ANTI ARTHRITIC ACTIVITY OF FICUS GLOMERATA EXTRACT
Tarendra Sonekar, Manju Prajapati, Akhlesh Kumar Singhai
ABSTRACT
Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness, and progressive destruction of joints. The present study was designed to investigate the extraction, phytochemical analysis, and in vivo anti-arthritic activity of Ficus glomerata extract. The powdered plant material was successively extracted using petroleum ether and ethanol solvents. The extractive values obtained were 0.76% w/w for petroleum ether extract and 9.25% w/w for ethanolic extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the ethanolic extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, diterpenes, carbohydrates, and saponins. Quantitative estimation showed total flavonoid content of 0.74 mg/100 mg and total alkaloid content of 0.68 mg/100 mg, indicating the presence of significant bioactive constituents. The anti-arthritic activity of the ethanolic extract was evaluated using Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis model in rats. The extract was administered orally at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, and paw volume was measured at different time intervals. The ethanolic extract exhibited significant and dose-dependent reduction in paw edema compared to the arthritis control group. The higher dose (200 mg/kg) showed more pronounced anti-arthritic activity, comparable to the standard drug aspirin (200 mg/kg). The observed pharmacological effect may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and other phytoconstituents possessing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The study concludes that the ethanolic extract of Ficus glomerata possesses significant anti-arthritic activity and supports its traditional use in the management of inflammatory disorders. Further investigations are required to isolate and characterize the active constituents responsible for the observed therapeutic effects.
[Full Text Article]