Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of In-vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity of Leaf Parts of Elephantopus scaber

Abstract

Elephantopus scaber has tremendous reputation in indigenous traditional system of medicine in India by virtue of which it has drawn attention and concern of scientists for validation of its medicinal properties through phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation. The current was conducted with the main objectives of phytochemical screening and evaluation of in-vitro anti-inflammatory activities of leaf parts of E. scaber. Leaves of E. scaber was subjected to successive solvent extraction by continuous hot extraction (Soxhlet) with methanol. Results delineated that the highest membrane stabilization i.e., 98.93% and 95.84% was observed at 100 mg/ml concentration of methanolic leaf extract of E. scaber in HRBC membrane stabilization method and in heat induced hemolysis method respectively which was at par with membrane stabilization effects of standard diclofenac sodium. The major phytochemicals found in methanolic leaf extract of E. scaber were found to be alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, phenolic compounds/tannins, and terpenoids. In conclusion, methanolic leaf extract of E. scaber has potential to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, and hence could be explored for the development of natural anti-inflammatory agents.