Cissus quadrangularis, also known as ‘Hadjod’, is commonly used as a bone setter on account of its fracture healing property.

A study by Priyanka Vijay and Rekha Vijayvergia assessed the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis in experimental models. C. quadrangularis was administered at doses of 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight. The 50 mg/kg dose inhibited writhing induced by the injection of 0.6% acetic acid by 36%, 100 mg/kg dose inhibited it by 54% and the 150 mg/kg dose inhibited it by 79% (Fig. 1). Aspirin administration inhibited writhing response by 79%. The ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis also inhibited formalin-induced biphasic pain response (neurogenic and inflammatory pain) in experimental models. In terms of anti-inflammatory activity, C. quadrangularis, at all administered doses, exhibited significant inhibitory effect on carrageenan-induced paw edema. At 1 hr, edema inhibition with aspirin was 72% compared to 81% with C. quadrangularis 150 mg/kg (Fig. 2). Oral administration of the C. quadrangularis extract suppressed edematous response 1 hr after carrageenan injection and the effect was shown to continue up to 5 hrs. The herb extract also exhibited marked antipyretic effect at higher dose (100 and 150mg/kg body weight).

The study thus concluded that ethanolic extract of C. quadrangularis possesses both peripheral and central analgesic activity, as well as marked antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Fig. 1. Inhibition of writhing response with C. quadrangularis doses and aspirin

Fig. 2. Inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema with C. quadrangularis 150 mg/kg and aspirin 300 mg/kg

Reference

1. Vijay P, Vijayvergia R. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity of Cissus quadrangularis. Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology 2010;2(1):111-8.