Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2003; 35: 312-315 SHORT COMMUNICATION

ANTIPYRETIC AND ANALGESIC EFFECT OF SOLANUM MELONGENA

ANTIPYRETIC AND ANALGESIC EFFECT OF LEAVES OF SOLANUM

MELONGENA LINN. IN RODENTS

S. MUTALIK, K. PARIDHAVI*, C. MALLIKARJUNA RAO, N. UDUPA

College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal-576 119. *College of Pharmacy, Pushpvihar, New Delhi-110 017.

Manuscript Received: 2.1.2003 Revised: 21.4.2003 Accepted: 29.4.2003

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the antipyretic and analgesic activity of dry residue of leaf juice of Solanum
melongena.
Methods: The preliminary phytochemical screening of the dry residue was carried out by chemical
tests, spectrophotometric and thin layer chromatographic methods. Acute toxicity study was performed
in mice after administration of the dry residue orally in graded doses (0.5-4 g/kg body weight). Antipyretic
activity of dry residue of S. melongena (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg doses) was carried out on yeast
induced pyrexia in rats. Analgesic activity of dry residue was evaluated in mice using the acetic acid
induced writhing test at 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg doses.
Results: The preliminary phytochemical screening of the dry residue showed the presence of flavonoids,
alkaloids, tannins and steroids. In acute toxicity study, no mortality was observed at a dose as high as
4 g/kg. The dry residue of fresh juice produced significant antipyretic effect in a dose dependent
manner and an appreciable antipyretic effect was noticed at 500 mg/kg dose. A dose dependent
analgesic activity was observed with S. melongena and significant effect was observed at 500 mg/kg
dose.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the potential antipyretic and analgesic effect of S.
melongena further supporting the claims by traditional medicine practitioners.

KEY WORDS Antinociceptive brinjal pyrexia rectal temperature

INTRODUCTION MATERIALS AND METHODS

Solanum melongena Linn. (Brinjal; Solanaceae), a
culinary vegetable, has been in use in the Indian
system of medicine. Various parts of the plant are
useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions,
cardiac debility, neuralgia, ulcers of nose, cholera,
bronchitis and asthma1. Its antioxidant 2, 3, analgesic4
and hypolipidemic5 activities have been reported. Also,
the rural people of Bellary district (Karnataka, India)
use the fresh juice of Brinjal leaves or its dry residue
against fever. The present study was initiated to
evaluate the antipyretic and analgesic activity of dry
residue of leaf juice of Solanum melongena.
Plant material: The leaves were collected in March
from the rural areas of Bellary and identified in the
Department of Botany, Veerasaiva College, Bellary.
Animals: Swiss albino mice (6-8 weeks) of either sex
weighing 25-30 g and male Wistar rats weighing 150-
200 g were used. They were housed in light controlled
room (12:12h) and at constant temperature (22+2OC)
conditions. Animals were fed with standard laboratory
diet (Lipton Feed, Bombay, India) and water.
Preparation of dry residue of leaf juice: The juice
of fresh leaves (yield: 48% w/w) was obtained by

Correspondence: N. Udupa
e-mail: udupa1553@yahoo.com
313 S. MUTALIK et al.

Table 1. Effect of dry residue of juice of S. melongena leaves on yeast induced pyrexia in rats.

Treatment Dose Rectal temperature (OC) Rectal temperature after administration of

(mg/kg, p.o.) drug (OC)
Normal 18 h after
yeast administration 1h (C1) 2h (C2) 3h (C3)
(A) (B)

Control 0.5 ml 37.97 ± 0.17 38.70 ± 0.16 38.67 ± 0.16 38.67 ± 0.16 38.65 ± 0.04
(Saline) (2.77 ± 3.21) (2.77 ± 3.21) (4.52 ± 4.21)
PRL 33 37.72 ± 0.14 38.40 ± 0.12 37.97 ± 0.19 37.90 ± 0.17 37.80 ± 0.17
(63.53 ± 5.38)* (74.55 ± 6.74)* (89.58 ± 7.22)*
SM 100 37.77 ± 0.20 38.32 ± 0.19 38.22 ± 0.19 38.07 ± 0.17 38.10 ± 0.16
(18.33 ± 1.11)@ (41.66 ± 7.29)*@ (45.83 ± 6.74)*@
SM 250 37.47 ± 0.17 38.45 ± 0.20 38.05 ± 0.17 37.95 ± 0.16 37.80 ± 0.14
(37.59 ± 5.31)* (53.02 ± 6.87)* (67.68 ± 4.86)*
SM 500 37.27 ± 0.20 38.05 ± 0.19 37.72 ± 0.16 37.57 ± 0.17 37.42 ± 0.20
(43.61 ± 9.56)* (58.05 ± 4.06)* (80.83 ± 5.75)*

One-way ANOVA F 17.13 20.98 33.60

df 29,4 25,4 25,4
P <0.05 <0.05 <0.05

All values are expressed as mean±SE (n=6); Percentage reduction in rectal temperature is given within parentheses; PRL=Paracetamol;
SM= Dry residue of juice of S. melongena fresh leaves; *P<0.05 significant compared to control; @P<0.05 significant compared to
PRL.
B - Cn
% reduction =----------- X100; where n = 1, 2 or 3
B-A

trituration, followed by pressing the leaves using a
tincture press. The dry residue of the juice was
obtained by evaporating the juice at room temperature
(yield: 0.62% w/v). The preliminary phytochemical
screening of the dry residue was carried out by
chemical tests, spectrophotometric and thin layer
chromatographic methods 6.
Acute toxicity of dry residue: Acute toxicity study
was performed in mice divided into different groups of
6 each. After an over night fast, the suspension of dry
residue in 0.5% (w/v) sodium carboxy methylcellulose
was administered orally in graded doses (0.5-4 g/kg
body weight) to mice. They were observed
continuously for the first 2 h for toxic symptoms and
upto 24 h for mortality.
Antipyretic activity: Antipyretic activity was carried
out according to the previously reported methods 7.
Briefly, pyrexia was induced in rats by injecting 20%
(w/v) aqueous suspension of Brewer's yeast
intramuscularly. After 18 h, the animals developed
0.5OC or more rise in the rectal temperature (about
60% of the total number of animals injected). They
were distributed into different groups of 6 each and
dry residue in the doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg
was administered orally. One group was administered
with paracetamol (33 mg/kg) orally. Control group was
given 0.5 ml normal saline. At different time intervals,
rectal temperature was noted. Similarly, over night
fasted normal animals were divided into different groups
of 6 each and the experiment was carried out in the
same manner as described above. Percentage
reduction in rectal temperature was calculated by
considering the total fall in temperature to normal level
as 100%.
Analgesic activity: Analgesic activity was evaluated
in mice using the writhing test8. After an over night
fast, mice were distributed into 5 groups of 6 each.
One hour after the oral administration of dry residue
(100, 250 and 500 mg/kg) or paracetamol (45 mg/kg)
 ANTIPYRETIC AND ANALGESIC EFFECT OF SOLANUM MELONGENA 314

or normal saline (0.2 ml; control group), the mice were Table 2. Effect of dry residue of juice of S. melongena leaves
given an intraperitoneal injection of 0.7% (v/v) acetic on acetic acid induced writhes in mice.
acid solution (volume of injection was 0.1 ml/10 g body Treatment Dose No. of writhings Inhibition
weight). The number of writhes produced in these (mg/kg) (%)
animals was counted for 20 min.
Control 0.5 ml 81.66±2.23 -
Statistical analysis: Statistical significance was (Saline)
analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by PRL 45 28.33±2. 18* 65. 30
Bonferroni test and P<0.05 was considered significant. SM 100 76.66±3.56@ 6.12
SM 250 66.00±4.21@ 19.17
RESULTS
SM 500 54.66±4.71*@ 33.06
The preliminary phytochemical screening of the dry One-way ANOVA F 36.12
residue showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids,
df 25,4
tannins and steroids. In acute toxicity study, the dry
P <0.05
residue of leaf juice was found to be safe and no
mortality was observed at a dose as high as 4 g/kg. All values are expressed as mean±SE (n=6); PRL=Paracetamol;
The results of effect of dry residue of juice of S . SM= Dry residue of juice of S. melongena fresh leaves;
melongena leaves on yeast induced pyrexia in rats *P<0.05 significant compared to control; @P<0.05 significant
compared to PRL.
are depicted in Table 1. S. melongena produced
significant (P<0.05) antipyretic effect in a dose
dependent manner. An appreciable antipyretic effect effect9,10. The dry residue did not decrease the body
noticed at 0.5 g/kg was comparable to paracetamol. temperature in normal rats. In a previous study, the
Normal rats did not show any decrease in the body increase in the body temperature intensified the lipid
temperature on oral administration of S. melongena. peroxidation process, which indicates that pyrexia is
The initial and final rectal temperatures (OC) for 3 groups associated with increased oxidative stress. The
of S. melongena administered rats were 38.40±0.16 antioxidant supplementation decreased the lipid
and 38.40±0.16 (100 mg/kg); 38.10±0.12 and peroxidation processes 11. The flavonoids and an
38.00±0.04 (250 mg/kg); 38.34±0.18 and 38.25±0.08 anthocyanin (Nasunin) from S. melonegna are
(500 mg/kg). The results of effect of S. melongena on reported to have antioxidant activity 2,3. Hence,
acetic acid induced writhing in mice are given in Table antioxidant activity of S. melongena may be one of
2. The dry residue produced analgesic activity in a the possible mechanisms by which it reduces the
dose dependent manner and a significant (P<0.05) elevated body temperature.
effect was observed at a dose of 500 mg/kg.
In the present study, S. melongena produced
DISCUSSION analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner and
significant effect was observed at 500 mg/kg.
In acute toxicity study, oral administration of S . Generally, plants showing the antipyretic effect also
melongena did not produce any mortality in mice upto possess analgesic activity12. In an earlier report, the
a dose level of 4 g/kg. This may be due to the broad alkaloidal extract of S. melongena was found to
non-toxic range of the plant as reported earlier, where produce significant analgesic effect4 . A number of
the S. melongena extract showed a high LD50 (more flavonoids have been reported to produce analgesic
than 1 gm/kg)4. activity8. Also, there are few reports on the role of
tannins in analgesic activity8. Hence, the present
The dry residue of fresh juice produced significant analgesic activity of S. melongena may be attributed
antipyretic effect in a dose dependent manner. The to the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins.
phytochemical analysis of the dry residue showed the
presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and steroids. The present study demonstrates the potential
The antipyretic activity observed can be attributed to antipyretic effect of S. melongena, which supports the
the presence of flavonoids. In many earlier studies, claims by traditional medicine practitioners as an
flavonoids have been reported to exhibit antipyretic antipyretic remedy.
315 S. MUTALIK et al.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are thankful to Ms. Chetana, Ms. Sulochana,
Prof. M.V. Jali and Guruprasad, Hospet for help and
cooperation.
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