QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PHYTOCHEMICALS, IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDIES ON MEDICINAL PLANTS TRIBULUS TERRESTRIS, PIPER NIGRUM AND CICHORIUM INTYBUS

Arthritic disorders include a variety of over one-hundred (100) autoimmune and chronic degenerative conditions associated with persistent or repeated bouts of pain, inflammation, and physical impairment. The prevalence of arthritic disorders and musculoskeletal pain varies from fourteen to thirty-six (14 to 36) percent in developed nations. Traditionally Tribulus terrestris, Piper nigrum and Cichorium intybus have potential against arthritis, therefore scientific evidence is not available yet therefore, purpose of the current research was the assessment of phytochemicals either qualitative and quantitative, in vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of medicinal plants Tribulus terrestris, Piper nigrum and Cichorium intybus, in vivo acute toxicity testing and explore anti-arthritic potential of hydro-ethanolic test samples on male Wistar albino rats. In current study qualitative phytochemical analysis was performed for the identification of phytochemicals in Piper nigrum, Cichorium intybus and Tribulus terrestris hydroethanolic extract further followed by quantitative analysis of these phytochemicals. It has been proven that Piper nigrum, Cichorium intybus and Tribulus terrestris has potential source of radical scavengers. All samples shown high DPPH scavenging potential with IC50 Tribulus terrestris 69.99 ±14.58, Cichorium intybus 68.41 ±14.73 and Piper nigrum 77.81 ±11.8 with p value <0.05 which shown the significance of antioxidant activity. No toxicity signs or deaths were recorded during the 72 hours of treatment by oral route with Cichorium intybus but Piper nigrum and Tribulus terrestris shown 20% mortality rate at the highest dose of 4000mg/kg. In vivo studies shown that the hydro-ethanolic extract of medicinal plants reduced dose dependant anti- arthiritic activity. As noted, there was pronounced percentage inhibition of paw edema at the sixth hour. Cichorium intybus shown the highest 1.73, 2.90, 1.85, 1.35 anti- edematous activity then Piper nigrum 1.76, 2.57, 1.75, 1.55 and Tribulus terrestris 1.73. 2.16, 2.55, 1.55 at the highest concentration at 200 mg/kg at 0, 1, 3 and 6 hours after induction of carrageenan control. The current study estimated Piper nigrum, Cichorium intybus and Tribulus terrestris are harmless and cost effective therapy for the management of arthritis.