Setaria italica (
Poaceae) has been used in
folk medicine to treat
inflammation,
pain,
arthralgia and many
neurological disorders. The objective of the study is
screening of ethanolic extract of
Setaria italica seeds for possible anti-inflammatory and neuropharmacological activities in
rats and
mice respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by
carrageenan induced paw
edema inhibition
method while the neuropharmacological potential was evaluated by three separate
methods:
Hole-cross test, Open-field
method and
Phenobarbitone induced sleeping
time test. The crude ethanolic extract of
seeds of
Setaria italica at 400 mg/kg
body weight showed a strong anti-inflammatory activity with 20.16, 65.44, 65.5 and 71.15% inhibition of paw
edema respectively after 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th hrs of
carrageenan injection which is comparable to that of standard
drug diclofenac sodium at 100 mg/kg
body weight (% inhibition 92.3% at 4th hour **P<0.001). In Hole-cross test, ethanolic extracts of
Setaria italica at 400 mg/kg
body weight dose have prominent CNS depressant activity which is comparable to standard
Diazepam. In
open field test, S. italica at 400 mg/kg
body weight significantly suppressed the
movements which is comparable to standard
Diazepam. In
Phenobarbitone induced test,
Setaria italica did not show any significant CNS-depressant activity. The findings of the studies demonstrate anti-inflammatory and neuropharmacological properties of
Setaria italica which could be
therapeutic option against
inflammation and
neurological disorders.