Antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of topical administration of Siegesbeckia pubescens

Several topical formulations containing methanolic extract of Siegesbeckia pubescens was investigated for antiinflammatory and analgesic activities in rat. The effects were studied using carrageenan-induced edema and formalin testing. Piroxicam gel and methyl salicylate ointment were studied as positive control for antiinflammatory and analgesic activity, respectively. The edema inhibition of the preparations containing extract at the doses of 1-5% w/w were significantly different from the control group. The antiinflammatory effect of Siegesbeckia pubescens 4-5% w/w was similar to the effect of piroxicam gel 3 h after carrageenan injection. The analgesic activity of topical preparation with more than 4% w/w was observed in the late phase. The topical analgesic activity of the extract was less than the analgesic activity of methyl salicylate ointment. The results of the present study further confirm the use of Siegesbeckia pubescens traditionally for the treatment of painful inflammatory conditions and can be useful for the treatment of local inflammation.