Phytochemical and Synergistically Combined Anti Inflammatory Activity of Annona Squamosa (Seeds) And Ficus Racemosa (Leaves)

The present study investigates the phytochemical composition, safety profile, and anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts derived from Annona squamosa seeds and Ficus racemosa leaves. Phytochemical screening revealed that the biological activity of these plants is attributed to the presence of diverse secondary metabolites, which vary depending on the solvent used for extraction. Methanolic extract of Ficus racemosa was found to contain steroids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, carbohydrates, quinones, saponins, and glycosides, while lacking terpenoids, proteins, and alkaloids. In contrast, the ethanolic extract of Annona squamosa contained steroids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, saponins, glycosides, and alkaloids, but was devoid of terpenoids, phenolics, quinones, tannins, and proteins. Acute toxicity studies demonstrated that the extracts are safe, with no mortality or behavioral abnormalities observed in animals up to an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg. No significant changes in body weight, morphology, or physiological behavior were noted, indicating that the LD₅₀ of the polyherbal formulation exceeds 2 g/kg. Based on these findings, doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg were selected for pharmacological evaluation. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using an egg white-induced paw edema model in rats. The results showed that the combination of extracts exhibited significant (p<0.001) inhibition of edema, particularly at ratios of 1:2 and 2:1. The 1:2 ratio demonstrated 38.32% inhibition, comparable to the standard drug indomethacin (38.52%), indicating strong anti-inflammatory potential. The effect is likely mediated through inhibition of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, serotonin, kinins, and prostaglandins, particularly during the second phase of inflammation. Histopathological analysis confirmed reduced edema and leukocyte infiltration in treated groups compared to control. Overall, the study concludes that the combined extracts exhibit significant and synergistic anti-inflammatory activity with a high safety margin, suggesting their potential as promising candidates for the development of novel antiinflammatory agents.