ABSTRACT
Background: Mangifera indica (MI), also known as mango, aam, has been an important herb in the Ayurvedic and indigenous medical systems for over 4000 years. Mangoes belong to genus Mangifera, which consists of about 30 species of tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. According to Ayurveda, varied medicinal properties are attributed to different parts of the mango tree. This study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic activity of aqueous extract of MI leaves in albino rats. Methods: Analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate method and acetic acid induced writhing with four groups of six rats each. Group 1 was control, Group 2 received standard drug (tramadol and diclofenac for hot plate and writhing method, respectively), and Groups 3 and 4 received aqueous extract of MI leaves extract 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg. Results: The reaction time (seconds, mean±standard error mean [SEM]) in hot plate method at 120 mins increased significantly (p<0.001) with MI 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg, 8.96±0.12 and 10.61±0.2, respectively. The acetic acid induced writhing test showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in number of writhes (mean±SEM) in MI 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg 43.76±1.59 and 30.33±1.41 respectively in treated rats when compared with control 67.17±0.75. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of MI extract has significant analgesic effect in rats.