A Comparative Study of Analgesic, Antipyretic and Anti-inflammatory Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum with Indomethacin and Diclofenac Sodium

Many drugs are available for the treatment of pain and inflammation but their utility is associated with various adverse effects. To eliminate such adverse effects natural products having medicinal effects are been given more priority This study was done to compare anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effect of alcoholic extract of seeds of Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) on albino mice with indomethacin and diclofenac sodium. Initially, seeds were collected, air dried, reduced to no: 36 powder and was extracted with 70% ethanol.

This study was done to compare analgesic activity of alcoholic extract of seeds of T. foenum-graecum on albino mice with indomethacin and diclofenac sodium using hot plate method and acetic acid induced writhing method. The animals were pretreated with indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p, diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p and T. foenum-graecum (200 mg/kg b.w.) i.p for 4 days and latency time on hot plate without licking or jumping was checked at 30 minutes after the administration of last dose. T. foenum –graecum (200 mg/kg b.w.) i.p differed significantly from the control (P<0.01). The latency time of fenugreek had increased by 16.39%. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test the maximum analgesic effect was observed in fenugreek.

A further study was done to compare antipyretic activity of alcoholic extract of seeds of T. foenum-graecum on albino mice with indomethacin and diclofenac sodium. The temperature was measured rectally using a digital thermometer. The animals were pretreated with indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p and T. foenum-graecum (200 mg/kg b.w.) i.p for 4 days. Pyrexia was induced by subcutaneous administration of 20% brewer’s yeast suspension (10 ml/kg). Twenty four hours after injection of the yeast, the body temperature was recorded. Maximum temperature reduction was observed in animals treated with fenugreek.

A further study was done to compare anti-inflammatory activity of alcoholic extract of seeds of T. foenum-graecum on albino mice with indomethacin and diclofenac sodium. The acute anti-inflammatory activity of T. foenum-graecum (200 mg/kg b.w.) i.p. was measured plethysmogr aphically using carrageenan as an inflammatory agent, and comparing it with indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p and diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg b.w.) i.p as a reference standard. Trigonella foenum-graecum (200 mg/kg b.w.) differed significantly from the control (P<0.05) at the 2nd, 4th, 6th hour. It was concluded that Diclofenac has a better anti-inflammatory effect than indomethacin and fenugreek.

It is concluded that T. foenum –graecum has significant analgesic and antipyretic effect, and can be used as a substituent for diclofenac sodium and indomethacin for minor pains.