Short Communication: Antinociceptive Effect of Russelia Equisetiformis Leave Extracts: Identification of Its Active Constituents‪.‬

Introduction Russelia equisetiformis, (Schlecht and Cham) belongs to the family Scrophulariacae. Phytochemical study of the plant revealed the presence of triterpenes of lupane type (Burns et al., 2001). The extract of the whole plant has been found to possess anti-microbial activity (Awe et al., 2004a). Various triterpenoids obtained from the plant have also been reported to exhibit analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects (Awe et al., 2004b). No systematic study has been carried out on the plant in order to establish the chemical principle responsible for the reported activities. We now report the isolation of one of the chemical principles and a new phenylethanoid glycoside from the ethylacetate fraction of the plant. This study establishes the antinociceptive activity of the fractions from R. equisetiformis, and Russetinol glycoside as the major compound responsible for the activity.