Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Tithonia diversifolia in Experimental Animal Models

Aim: The common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids have adverse effects. This has motivated for the search of new drugs with decreased or no side effects. In the present study, we investigated analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of Tithonia diversifolia in vivo.

Methods: Analgesic activity of the methanol extract of T. diversifolia was carried out using an analgesy meter to measure the tolerance of induced pressure. The method of carrageenan-induced inflammation in rat was used for the anti-inflammatory effect.

Results: This study shows statistically significant improvements in pain resistance and paw oedema suppression were observed in animals treated with 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) methanol extract of Tithonia diversifolia, when compared to control groups treated with normal saline and acetyl salicylic acid. The maximum analgesic effect was achieved at 300 mg/kg after 30 min with effective ratio of 5.92 when compared with the standard drug acetyl salicylic acid, and twice the activity of 150 mg/kg at the same time.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the plant extract has analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, supporting its uses in traditional medicine.