Department of Pharmacy, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sonapur, Noakhali, 3814, Bangladesh.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 May 10;271:113915. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113915. Epub 2021 Feb 7.
Aeginetia indica (Linn.), commonly known as aankuri bankuri, guan-jen-huang, forest ghost flower, dok din daeng, dapong tubo; is a root parasitic plant of the Orobanchaceae family native to South and South-East Asian region. Different parts of the plant are traditionally used to treat fever, pain, inflammation, arthritis, cough, diabetes, and chronic liver disease. Local practitioners often recommend this plant as a folk remedy for dermal swelling, painful menstrual periods, wounds, and knee pain. However, the antipyretic and analgesic activity of A. indica have never been investigated.
The present study was aimed to evaluate the analgesic and antipyretic potential of Aeginetia indica plant extract to verify its effectiveness as reported in traditional uses.
Preliminary phytochemical analysis of Aeginetia indica crude extract was performed using previously established methods and antioxidant capacity was determined by phosphomolybdenum assay. In vivo analgesic activity of Aeginetia indica methanol extract (AiME) was evaluated by acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced paw licking test, and hot plate test model. The antipyretic activity was studied in Baker's yeast induced pyrexia model.
Phytochemicals screening revealed cardiac glycosides, saponins, phenols, tannins, and flavonoids in the crude extract of Aeginetia indica. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were recorded as 101 ± 1.1 mg GAE/g of the extract and 35 ± 0.8 mg QE/g of the extract, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity observed in phosphomolybdenum assay was 68.3 ± 1.3 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per gram of the extract. AiME showed significant dose-dependent analgesic activity against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced paw licking, and hot plate pain model. A higher dose of A. indica (200 mg/kg) produced significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of writhing by 69% whereas, standard aspirin showed maximum 85.6% inhibition. AiME at all doses showed a significant (P < 0.001) decrease of paw licking time in both early neurogenic and late inflammatory pain phase of formalin-induced licking test. In the hot plate test, AiME at a 200 mg/kg dose produced antinociceptive activity (55.18%) higher than the standard ketorolac (49.88%) at 1 h. However, after 2 h, ketorolac showed a maximum effect of 62.66% and AiME 200 mg/kg showed a 60.24% effect. A significant (P < 0.001) reduction of rectal temperature (4.54 °F↓) was recorded for AiME 200 mg/kg, which was higher than the standard paracetamol (3.86 F°↓) after 24 h of treatment.
The in vivo investigational studies' results demonstrated promising analgesic and antipyretic activities of A. indica, which supported the claim of its folk uses.
Aeginetia indica（林奈），通常被称为 aankuri bankuri、guan-jen-huang、forest ghost flower、dok din daeng、dapong tubo；是一种原产于南亚和东南亚地区的列当科根寄生植物。该植物的不同部位传统上用于治疗发热、疼痛、炎症、关节炎、咳嗽、糖尿病和慢性肝病。当地从业者经常推荐这种植物作为民间疗法，用于治疗皮肤肿胀、疼痛的月经周期、伤口和膝关节疼痛。然而，A. indica 的解热和镇痛活性从未被研究过。
本研究旨在评估 Aeginetia indica 植物提取物的镇痛和解热潜力，以验证其在传统用途中报告的有效性。
采用已建立的方法对 Aeginetia indica 粗提取物进行初步的植物化学分析，并通过磷钼酸盐法测定其抗氧化能力。采用醋酸诱导扭体试验、甲醛诱导舔爪试验和热板试验模型评价 Aeginetia indica 甲醇提取物（AiME）的体内镇痛活性。采用贝克酵母诱导发热模型研究其解热活性。
植物化学物质筛选显示，Aeginetia indica 粗提取物中含有强心苷、皂苷、酚类、单宁和类黄酮。提取物中总酚和总黄酮含量分别为 101 ± 1.1 mg GAE/g 提取物和 35 ± 0.8 mg QE/g 提取物。在磷钼酸盐测定中观察到的总抗氧化能力为每克提取物 68.3 ± 1.3 毫克抗坏血酸当量。AiME 对醋酸诱导的扭体、甲醛诱导的舔爪和热板疼痛模型表现出显著的剂量依赖性镇痛活性。较高剂量的 A. indica（200 mg/kg）对扭体的抑制作用达到 69%（P < 0.001），而标准阿司匹林的最大抑制率为 85.6%。AiME 在所有剂量下均显著（P < 0.001）减少了甲醛诱导舔爪试验中早期神经源性和晚期炎症性疼痛阶段的舔爪时间。在热板试验中，AiME 在 200 mg/kg 剂量下产生的镇痛活性（55.18%）高于标准酮咯酸（49.88%）在 1 小时。然而，2 小时后，酮咯酸达到最大效果 62.66%，AiME 200 mg/kg 达到 60.24%的效果。AiME 200 mg/kg 可显著降低（P < 0.001）直肠温度（4.54°F↓），这比治疗 24 小时后的标准扑热息痛（3.86°F↓）更高。
体内研究结果表明，A. indica 具有有希望的镇痛和解热活性，这支持了其民间用途的说法。
