Ziziyphus nummularia (family: Rhamnaceae) is a thorny small bush, grows in abundance in the grazing lands of the arid areas of Rajasthan, India. It is an important ethnomedicinal plant of the Thar Desert; local inhabitants use every part of the plant as medicine. Kernels are prescribed in pregnancy as soporific,
antiemetic and for relieving
abdominal pain. The insect gall is powered and given orally with water to cure
bone fracture. Crushed root is applied on the paining shoulder of the bullock. The decoction of leaves is used for the treatment of
cough and cold; leaves are also regarded as diaphoretic and prescribed in
typhoid.
Paste of leaves is used for healing of cuts,
boils and cutaneous disease. It is widely used in
pain and inflammatory conditions. Z. nummularia contains a unique group of
alkaloids known as
cyclopeptide alkaloids, in continuation of our work carried out on the leaves of Z. nummularia , present study was initiated to explore antiinflammatory and
analgesic potential of
cyclopeptide alkaloids isolated from the leaves of Z. nummularia (IFZN). Anti-inflammatory activity was tested against rat paw oedema, mouse
peritonitis and cotton pellet
granuloma. For screening of
analgesic activity,
acetic acid induced writhing, tail flick and hot plate test were performed. IFZN 30 mg/kg shows the anti-oedematogenic effect against paw oedema induced by
carrageenan,
dextran,
serotonin and
histamine; IFZN 20 and 30 mg/kg were found to have highly significant anti-nociceptive effects. Result of pharmacological studies indicated that IFZN is a potent and efficacious
analgesic agent. The
analgesic activity of IFZN is mediated by the peripheral as well as central pathways.