75 Original article doi: 10.1016/S2222-1808(15)60988-4 ©2016 by the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. All rights reserved. Evaluation of in vivo anti-infammatory and analgesic activity of Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. and Shorea robusta stem bark extracts Preet Amol Singh 1 , Narsihma Baba Brindavanam 2 , Gaya Prasad Kimothi 2 , Vidhu Aeri 1* 1 Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India 2 Dabur Bio-resource Development Department, DRDC, Ghaziabad, India Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2016; 6(1): 75-81 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apjtd *Corresponding author: Dr. Vidhu Aeri: , PhD, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Jamia Hamdard University, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India. Tel: 09873496942 E-mail: vidhuaeri@yahoo.com 1. Introduction Inflammation is a complex physiological process associated with pain as a secondary process and its hallmarks include swelling, redness, pain and fever (tumor, rubor, dolor and calor)[1]. Inflammation is associated with the release of chemicals, basically leukotrienes, prostaglandins, bradykinin, histamine, interleukin-1 and platelet-activating factor, from tissues and migrating cells[2]. Steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most clinically accepted chemical therapeutics for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases, such as rheumatism, arthritis, cardiovascular diseases and asthma[3]. The greatest disadvantage of the presently available potent synthetic drugs for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases is their serious adverse effects and the chances of reoccurrence of symptoms after discontinuation[4]. Therefore, naturally occurring agents which have lesser side effects with good analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities are required as a substitute to chemical therapeutics[5]. Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. (D. indica f. elongata) is an evergreen forest plant rich in lupeol group of triterpenoids like betulin, betulinic acid and flavonoids which possess wide spectrum of pharmacological activities[6]. Bark (possesses astringent properties), fruit (possesses laxative properties, treats fever and cough)[7], alcoholic extract (has central nervous system depressant activity) and the mixed juice of leaf, bark and fruits are given orally for the treatment of cancer and diarrhoea[8]. Shorea robusta Gaertn. (S. robusta) (Dipterocarpaceae) is a plant used traditionally in India for treatment of many ailments and the plant contains chemical constituents sucha as polyphenols, shoreaphenol, chalcone glycoside (C 21 H 22 O 7 ), etc. The bark is used for the treatment of piles, ulcers and wounds[9,10]. The resin of S. robusta possesses astringent properties for which it is given for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, skin, ear troubles and it is well documented in literature for its good analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties[10,11]. There is little information about the analgesic and anti-inflammatory ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of stem bark extract of Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. (D. indica f. elongata) and its comparison with Shorea robusta Gaertn. (S. robusta) and respective standard drugs in experimental animals. Methods: Analgesic models (hot plate, tail flick and formalin induced paw licking) along with acute (carrageenan-induced) and chronic (formalin-induced) models of inflammation were evaluated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory potential of the plant extracts. Results: The results of the study showed that the ethyl acetate extracts of D. indica f. elongata (100 and 300 mg/kg) and S. robusta (100 and 300 mg/kg) possessed good central as well as peripheral analgesic activity as compared with pentazocine and indomethacin (10 mg/kg) respectively. The extracts showed significant (P < 0.01) activity in carrageenan- and formalin- induced chronic inflammation models by using indomethacin (8 mg/kg) and diclofenac (13.5 mg/kg) as standard drugs respectively. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the presence of major constituents like flavonoids, tannins and phenols in the ethyl acetate extracts of stem bark of D. indica f. elongata (100 and 300 mg/kg) and S. robusta (100 and 300 mg/kg) may be responsible for its analgesic and anti- inflammatory activity. Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Article history: Received 22 Oct 2015 Received in revised form 5 Nov 2015 Accepted 22 Nov 2015 Available online 28 Dec 2015 Keywords: Dillenia indica f. elongata (Miq.) Miq. Shorea robusta Gaertn. Anti-inflammatory Analgesic properties