Abstract
In the current study, the folklore medicine, Syzygium cumini, was experimentally evaluated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative, and muscle relaxant effects. The extract and fractions of S. cumini were found safe up to 1000 mg/kg with no mortality, except for slight sedation as a minor side effect. Both, the extract and various fractions of S. cumini demonstrated significant inhibition (86.34%) of carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice. Acetic acid induced writhes were attenuated (p<0.001) by S. cumini in a dose-dependent manner, except for the n-hexane fraction. The maximum effect was observed at a dose of 500 mg/kg in mice. The maximum muscle relaxant effect of all tested samples was recorded at a dose of 500 mg/kg bodyweight, where the percent inhibition exhibited by dichloromethane fraction was 82.34%, followed by chloroform fractions (71.43%) and methanolic extract (70.91%). Our findings validate the folklore medicinal claims of S. cumini, as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.