Preliminary studies on the antiinflammatory, analgesic and diuretic activity of stagninol, a sesquiterpene isolated from Persicaria stagnina.

Stagninol, a sesquiterpene, isolated from Persicaria stagnina Linn showed significant antiinflammatory and analgesic activity (P < 0.001) in animals. A sedative action of stagninol was revealed by a marked potentiation of pentobarbital induced sedation with significant effect on both onset (P < 0.001) and duration (P < 0.01) of sleep. Measurement of urine volume after administration of stagninol indicated its significant diuretic action. Biochemical investigations revealed that both crude extract and stagninol showed dose dependent reduction of blood uric acid and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). There was an increase in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) and serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) level with the crude extract but stagninol showed no significant changes of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), SGPT and SAP level.