Original Article Analgesic, Anti- infammatory, Anti- lipoxygenase Activity and Characterization of Three Bioactive Compounds in the Most Active Fraction of Leptadenia reticulata (Retz.)Wight & Arn. – A Valuable Medicinal Plant Sudipta Kumar Mohanty a,b* , Mallappa Kumara Swamy b , Sushil Kumar Middha d , Lokesh Prakash b , Balasubramanya Subbanarashiman c and Anuradha Maniyam a,b a Department of Biotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjunanagar, Guntur, India. b Padmashree Institute of Management and Sciences, Kommagatta, Bangalore- 560060, India. c Rishi Foundation, Jayanagar, Bangalore- 560011, India. d Department of Biotechnology, Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Malleswaram, Bangalore - 560012, India. Abstract Leptadenia reticulata was reported to be used for several medicinal purposes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate anti-infammatory, analgesic and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities of L. reticulata. The anti-infammatory assay was performed by λ-carrageenan and formalin induced paw edema test. Pro infammatory mediators (IL2, IL6, TNF-α) in serum of treated and control organism were analyzed by quantitative ELISA. Lipid peroxidation inhibition was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Analysis of the most active fraction revealed the presence of one phenolic compound (p-coumaric acid), two favonoids (rutin and quercetin) which also determined quantitatively. The ethyl acetate fraction at 600 mg/Kg signifcantly inhibited λ-carrageenan and formalin induced paw edema by 60.59% and 59.24% respectively. Notable reduction in percentage of writhing (76.25%), induced by acetic acid signifes the potent analgesic activity. Lower level of pro-infammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α) in serum at the 4 th hour of λ-Carrageenan injection indicated the inhibition of cyclooxigenase-2 (Cox-2), Nitric oxide (NO) and release of prostaglandin to prevent infammation. The study also demonstrated the decrease in malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration which revealed the lipid peroxidation inhibition potential of the plant. Our fnding provides evidence for potent biological activities in tested model which is supported by its characterized bioactive compounds and ethnomedicinal relevance. Keywords: Leptadenia reticulate; Anti-infammatory activity; Analgesic activity; Lipid peroxidation inhibition; Pro-infammatory cytokines. Copyright © 2015 by School of Pharmacy Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2015), 14 (3): 933-942 Received: November 2013 Accepted: February 2014 * Corresponding author: E-mail: su_sudeepta@yahoo.co.in Introduction Leptadenia reticulata, the species used in the current study belongs to Asclepiadaceae family has a unique place due to its multi fold medicinal properties. Leptadenia reticulata, is well known for its medicinal value from 4500 to 1600 BC that the oldest scripture in India (Atharva veda) mentioned its utility as a strength giver, maintaining youthful vigour and vitality (1). This plant is reported to be used as one of the ingredient