Abstract
Some plants used in Folk medicine are analgesic. Saudi Arabia is rich in medicinal plants. Cleome africana Botsch. is annual growing herb and has long been used medicinally for its analgesic properties among Rafha residents. The study was designed to scientifically prove its traditional use as an analgesic. For this initial phytochemical screening tests were performed with crude extract. The investigation of the peripherally acting analgesic activity of the Cleome africana crude extract and its ethanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions was carried out in mice using Eddy’s Hot plate method. The test drug exhibited significant analgesic activity by increasing the reaction time compared to control. The best result was achieved by n-butanol fraction of Cleome extract. To develop a standard method for identification and authentication of Cleome africana plant, HPLC fingerprints of crude extract was succeeded by using a Column: Symmetry C18 (5μm, 4.6*250mm) and mobile phase of Solvent A- Methanol or Acetonitrile and Solvent B-Water-formic acid (0.2%). HPLC fingerprints of different fractions were also carried out to find the pharmacological active compound. Further studies are in progress to isolate and evaluate the compounds separated by HPLC technique. Key Words: Cleome africana, ph
