Objectives: Ethanol extract of the stem of Bauhinia purpurea Linn.
was subjected to analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in animal
models. Materials and Methods: Albino Wistar rats and mice were the
experimental animals respectively. Different CNS depressant paradigms
like analgesic activity (determined by Eddy′s hot plate method
and acetic acid writhing method) and anti-inflammatory activity
determined by carrageenan induced paw edema using plethysmometer in
albino rats) were carried out, following the intra-peritoneal
administration of ethanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea Linn. (BP) at
the dose level of 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg. Results: The analgesic and
anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts of BP were significant
(P < 0.001). The maximum analgesic effect was observed at 120 min at
the dose of 100mg/kg (i.p.) and was comparable to that of standard
analgin (150mg/kg) and the percentage of edema inhibition effect was
46.4% and 77% for 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg (i.p) respectively.
Anti-inflammatory activity was compared with standard Diclofenac sodium
(5mg/kg). Conclusion: Ethanol extract of Bauhinia purpurea has shown
significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities at the dose of
100 mg/kg and was comparable with corresponding standard drugs. The
activity was attributed to the presence of phytoconstituents in the
tested extract
