Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of Solanum Melongena

Abstract

Solanum melongena (SM) or eggplant is a species of the nightshade family. In the traditional medicine system of the subcontinent, SM possesses excellent therapeutic effects on warts, burns, and many inflammatory diseases, such as stomatitis, arthritis, and gastritis. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of SM fruit. The anti-inflammatory effect was studied using carrageenan-induced edema in the hind paw of the rat while analgesic activity was studied by thermal and chemical induction of pain. Crude methanolic extract of the plant showed a potent analgesic effect. When used at doses of 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg, SM caused significant inhibition (P < 0.001) of the nociception induced by acetic acid. In the formalin test, the plant extract of SM (10, 20, and 50 mg/kg i.p.) significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.001) inhibited both phases of formalin-induced licking response in mice. In the hot plate assay SM (50 mg/kg i.p.) showed significant analgesic activity (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), similar to morphine. Furthermore, methanolic extract of SM (10–50 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the paw edema in the third hour after carrageenan administration, with maximum inhibition being 75% at 50 mg/kg. We concluded that the crude methanolic extract of SM possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties which rationalize its traditional use in treating inflammatory conditions.