EVALUATION OF ANTI - INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY AND ANALG ESIC EFFECT OF ALOE VERA LEAF EXTRACT IN RATS

C linical evaluation of analgesic and anti - inflammatory drugs envisages th e development of side effects that make s efficacy of a drug arguable. Alternatively, indigenous drug with fewer side effects is the major thrust area of research in the management of pain and inflammation. In the present study aqueous extract of whole leaf of Aloe vera at various concentrations was investigated for its anti inflammatory and analgesic activities in albino wistar rats . Carrageenan and formaldehyde - induced rat paw oedema was used to evaluate the anti - inflammatory activity and t ail flick, hot p late and acetic acid tests were used to assess the analgesic activity of A. vera leaf aqueous extract s . Whole leaf aqueous extracts at various concentrations ( 100 , 2 00 , 400, and 6 00 mg/kg of bw ) significantly reduced formation of oedema induced by carragee nan and formaldehyde and granuloma formation in a dose dependent manner . Further, a cetic acid - induced writhing model exhibited significant analgesic effect characterized by reduction in writhes. W hole leaf aqueous extract showed dose dependent increase in tolerance to thermal stimulus comparable to indomethacin . No mortality was observed during the a cute toxicity test at a dosage of 600mg/kg. Thus whole leaf aqueous extract of Aloe vera can be exploited as non toxic drug for the treatment and clinical manag ement of inflammation and pain .