ABSTRACT:
Heterophragma roxburghii, a member of the family Bignoniaceae, is a wild tree widely distributed in the southern and western parts of India, where it is locally referred to as ‘Warras’. Traditionally, the leaves of Heterophragma roxburghii have been employed in folk medicine for their antidiabetic, antifungal, and antiseptic effects, as well as for managing a variety of skin conditions. In this study, an ethanolic leaf extract of H. roxburghii (EEHR) was investigated for its potential analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities using well-established animal models. The extract (400mg/kg) produced a marked analgesic effect in both the acetic acid-induced writhing assay (p<0.001) and the tail immersion test (p<0.001). Anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, where significant inhibition of edema was observed (p<0.01). Furthermore, in the excision wound model, the extract promoted significant wound contraction and accelerated epithelialization at both tested doses (p<0.001). Collectively, these findings suggest that EEHR possesses promising pharmacological properties, likely attributable to the diverse phytoconstituents present in the leaves.