Research Article
Shital S. Chavan, Ravindra S.
Abstract
Ficus bengalensis Linn. (Family:Moraceae) is a large branching tree with numerous aerial roots occurring all over India. Currently available drugs for the management of pains, fever and inflammation conditions are presents with many known adverse effects, hence the search for new drugs from plants which hitherto may be harmless to humans. For this purpose, Ficus bengalensis Linn (Family:Moraceae) was screened for its phyto contents and analgesic properties using hotplate and tail immersion method with mice. The result of the preliminary Phytochemical studies revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates and phenolics in the plant as a whole. The analgesic study showed that the methanolic extract of the bark showed significant activity as compared to pentazocine used as a standard drug. Tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins have been reported to be responsible for the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in many medicinal plants of this family. These results may explain the use of the plant for the management of pains and its related ailments in the locality where it is very common.