A Review on Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Traditional Medicinal Plants

 

Chethan M L*, Shekshavali T, Ganesh D S, Krupasagar P N.

Department of Pharmacology, National College of Pharmacy, Shivamogga - 577201 Karnataka.

 

ABSTRACT:

A wide range of potential drugs candidates can be found in medicinal plants with therapeutic potential. One of the primary categories of disorders that are common is inflammation, which includes rheumatism and arthritis. The majority of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications on the market work effectively for joint inflammation, but they have no gastroprotective qualities. Numerous undesirable side effects are displayed by NSAIDs, opiates, and other anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications. Therefore, there must be an emergence in order to produce new active molecules with a minimum of side effects.  Many substances, interfering with the inflammatory response have been isolated from medicinal plants. The purpose of this study is to provide an in-depth review of plant species that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Inflammation represents a complex biological protective response of the body to harmful stimuli introduced to the host. These noxious stimulants include radiation, chemical, physical, infectious and immunological incitation. Inflammatory ailments, such as allergy, asthma, hepatitis, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, glomerulonephritis, preperfusion injury, transplant rejection and rheumatic disorders.¹

 

Pain and inflammation are frequent, nonspecific symptoms of many illnesses. It is a defence mechanism used to take out the harmful stimuli and start the healing process of the tissue. Inflammatory cells are rich in several endogenous mediators, including prostaglandins, which are widely distributed mediators that indicate and regulate the cell and tissue responses associated with inflammation.

 

Other endogenous mediators include histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, and more. On the other hand, chronic inflammation can cause a number of illnesses, such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease, include joint malformation, immunological-mediated inflammatory sinusitis involving the destruction of cartilage and bone, pain, synovial hyperplasia, pannus formation, and morphological changes.²

 

Classical symptoms of acute inflammation include edema, erythema, discomfort, heat, and most importantly, loss of function. The infiltration of serum and white blood cells (leucocytes) into the tissues causes the characteristic symptoms. The type of cells that are present at the site of inflammation gradually changes as a result of chronic inflammation. It is characterized by inflammation-induced tissue damage and repair occurring at the same time.³

 

Pain is an unpleasant sensation that is frequently linked to tissue injury. The primary root cause of pain is tissue damage, which releases various chemical mediators such as substance P, bradykinins, and prostaglandins that act on the nociceptors responsible for this sensation. The nociceptive stimulus is transmitted to the CNS by small myelinated Aδ- fibres or by unmyelinated thin C-fibres6. It is often classified as chronic and acute. Acute pain may be characterized by its quick onset and short duration, lasting for hours. On the other hand, chronic pain is often associated with persistent pain over a large period of time.⁴

 

Any drug in the class of treatments used for pain treatment is referred to as an analgesic medicine, sometimes known as an antalgic, analgesic, pain reliever, or painkiller.

 

In modern medicine, the only medications available are cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, which include opioids and NSAIDs. When used as a long-term treatment, like in the case of RA, these conventional medications can have serious side effects, including respiratory depression, kidney damage, gastrointestinal issues, and even dependency. As a result, researchers are looking for novel anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications without those side effects all over the world.

 

Because of the therapeutic benefits that medicinal plants offer, phytochemists consider studying plants that have been traditionally used as medication for pain to be an advantageous and sensible research approach in the ongoing search for novel analgesic medications and pain mechanisms.²

 

Several experimental models are used in inflammation research to examine the anti-inflammatory properties. Lewis (1989) distinguishes between two categories of these models: acute inflammatory models and chronic inflammatory models.

 

The purpose of acute models is to evaluate medications that affect erythema, vascular permeability, leukocyte migration and chemotaxis, phagocytosis (by polymorphonuclear leucocytes and other phagocytic cells), local pain assessment, antipyretic activity, local analgesic action, and rat paw edema.

 

Adjuvant-induced arthritis, rabbit mono-articular arthritis, granuloma pouches that deposit granulation tissue, and sponge and pellet implants are examples of chronic models used to identify medications that may modify the disease process.³

 

According to fossil studies, the earliest records of traditional medicinal systems that use plants as therapeutic agents trace back to the Middle Palaeolithic age, about 60,000 years ago. Developed nations are now using traditional medicinal systems that include the use of herbal medications and remedies. and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 65% of the world’s population has incorporated the value of plants as a methodology of medicinal agents into their primary modality of health care. It is often noted that 25% of all drugs prescribed today come from plants. This estimate indicates that a significant number of medications based on natural products are plant derived.⁵

 

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of traditional medicinal plants

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of [6]-gingerol.

[6]- Gingerol A marker substance for ginger has been identified as gingerol. the purpose of the study was to investigate the effects [6]-gingerol on Nociception induced by acetic acid and formalin in mice and paw edema induced by carrageenin (CARR) in rats.

 

The pungent component of ginger, [6]-gingerol, was tested for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Intraperitoneal administration of [6]-gingerol inhibited the late phase licking time induced by formalin and the writhing response induced by acetic acid. Moreover, [6]-gingerol inhibited carrageenin-induced paw edema. These results implied that [6]-gingerol had anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.⁶

 

Bridelia retusa (Spreng) bark:

The current study provided an overview of the basic phytochemical analysis, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic activity assessment, and the underlying mechanism of Bridelia retusa Spreng bark. test materials demonstrated a significant reduction in acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and cotton pellet granuloma in a dose-dependent manner.

 

B. retusa bark contains analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties, the current work has shown these effects and suggested the possibility that the molecular membrane may be linked to the inhibition of biochemical and hematological parameters.²

 

Vitex negundo linn:

This study was conducted to assess the hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex negundo leaves' analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties and investigate any possible mechanisms underlying its pharmacological actions.

 

In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, VLE markedly slowed down the mice's writhing movements and lengthened their reaction time In the tail immersion test, there was an apparent improvement in reaction time. At larger doses, VLE significantly decreased the volume of rat paw oedema. Additionally, it significantly lowered the formation of granuloma pouch in rats. In isolated uterine horns primed with oestradiol, VLE inhibited contractions elicited by oxytocin. The presence of bioflavonoids has been found in VLE. VLE has anti-inflammatory properties, they showed subacute inflammation inhibition due to presence of flavonoid contents in the VLE extract. This study showed VLE has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.⁷

 

Piper nigrum L:

In this study they investigated and contrasted, in mice and rats, The analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of pure piperine with hexane and ethanol extracts of Piper nigrum L fruit. The analgesic activity was determined by tail immersion method, analgesy-meter, hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing test. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in rats. The investigation showed that Piper nigrum L has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.⁸

 

Pinus roxburghii Sarg:

In this study they evaluated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the plant's bark extract because the oil from the plant is widely utilized in many herbal preparations for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Dried and crushed leaves of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. were defatted with petroleum ether and then extracted with alcohol.

 

In experimental animal models, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the alcoholic extract were assessed. Acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma in Wistar albino rats, and analgesic activity was measured using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion tests in Swiss albino mice. In the examined models, the alcoholic bark extract of Pinus roxburghii Sarg. showed significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.⁹

 

Cleome rutidosperma:

In this study they reported the ethanolic extract and its fractions of C. rutidosperma aerial parts' analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. Oral administration of the ethanolic extract and its fractions of Cleome rutidosperma's aerial parts exhibited significant antipyretic activity against yeast-induced pyrexia, anti-inflammatory effect against carrageenin-induced inflammation, adjuvant-induced polyarthritis, and significant analgesic activity in acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion tests.¹⁰

 

Cissampelos pareira:

Rats were used in this research to evaluate the effects of 50% ethanolic extract of Cissampelos pareira roots (CPE) in acute, subacute, and chronic inflammation models.

 

According to this study CPE shows significant anti-inflammatory effects without having any ulcerogenic properties, indicating that it may be used as an anti-inflammatory medication to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions.¹¹

 

Sida cordifolia Linn.

Sida cordifolia Linn is a member of the Malvaceae family of plants. The entire plant's aqueous extract is used to cure rheumatism. This study intends to assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of different Sida cordifolia Linn (SIC) extracts. Sida cordifolia Linn. showed significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.¹²

 

Echinops kebericho M.

This study used the model of mice to examine the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of an 80% methanol root extract of Echinops kebericho M. After an 80% hydro methanol extraction of the roots, the anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extract was assessed using paw edema induced by carrageenan and formalin, and its peripheral and central analgesic activities were assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot plate method, respectively.

 

The extract was tested at different concentrations. The highest dose of the extract demonstrated the greater analgesic activity in the hot plate method and the acetic acid-induced writhing test. In a dose-dependent manner, the extract's effect was likewise statistically significant in paw edema induced by formalin and carrageenan. The maximum dose was found to have greater edema inhibition in both observations. E. kebericho extract at all test doses showed statistically significant antinociceptive activity in both chemicals-induced peripheral and thermal-induced central pain in a dose dependent manner. This investigation demonstrated that the extract had significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.¹³

 

Murraya koenigii Linn.

This study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of aqueous extract of dried M. koenigii Linn. leaves on male Wistar rats.by using plethysmometer and hot plate method by oral administration at different doses in healthy albino rats.

 

When compared to the control and standard medication, the aqueous extract demonstrated dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect and significantly reduced the volume of paw edema.  Aqueous extract of M. koenigii Linn. significantly reduced the number of acetic acid-induced writhing and increased the latency of paw licking in hot plate method.

 

M. koenigii Linn. has dose-dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in its aqueous extract.¹⁴

 

CONCLUSION:

NSAIDs and opiates, novel anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications with minimal adverse effects are being looked for globally. Medicinal plants are a rich natural resource of beneficial compounds that may have therapeutic use. The review discus the main chemical families of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, which include flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, polysaccharides, saponins, glycosides, and many other chemicals. Further information on finding specific drug candidates with pharmacological activity will be provided by the introduction of reported chemical compounds that may have folkloric value in the relief of pain and inflammation. Further study in this area may reveal a potential mode of lead to the development of more encouraging medications. This review opens the way for the Further research on these plants and it may help future researchers to find a lead compound with ease for analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug discovery.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

The authors are thankful to National Education Society, Shivamogga for providing facilities through the Principal National College of Pharmacy, Shivamogga.

 

REFERENCE:

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Received on 01.06.2024         Modified on 02.07.2024

Accepted on 26.07.2024       ©A&V Publications All right reserved