Assessment of analgesic and neuropharmacological activity of leaves of Bixa orellana (Family: Bixaceae)

Background:Bixa orellanaLinn, (Family: Bixaceae) commonly known as “Lipstick tree” have been extensively used traditional medicine in India and others part of the world to cure laxative, cardiotonic, hypotensive,expectorant, antibiotic, antipyretic, aphrodisaic etc. It has been found that B. orellanacontains different phytochemical groups such as phenolic compounds, glycosides, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, saponins.The project work has been designed to investigate the phytochemical nature (group determination of plant constituents), analgesic and neuropharmacological activity of B.orellanaleaves extract. Methods:Analgesic activity of B. orellanawas determined by acetic acid induced writhing, hot plate, tail immersion and paw tickling test/formalin induced nociceptortest. Open field, hole cross, tail suspension and light/dark box test were employed for the assessment of neuropharmacological activity of B. orellana.Results:Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of reducing sugar, alkaloids, glycosides, gum,terpenoids, tannins, steroids and flavonoids. In analgesic activity test, the sample showed significant analgesic activity. The dose-dependent neuropharmacological activity is shown in neuropharmacological activity test.Conclusions:Our exploration suggests that B. orellanacontains bioactive compounds and it should be studied further for isolation and purification of such novel compounds

Neuropharmcological potential of methanolic extract and a triterpene isolated from Madhuca longifolia L leaves in mice.

The methanolic extract of M. longifolia (MLME) and a compound a triterpene, derivative of madhucic acid (dMA) isolated from the leaves of M. longifolia, were investigated for their possible neuropharmacological activities in mice using phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, spontaneous motor activity, marble burying test and Eddy’s hot plate method. LD50 for MLME and dMA were 100 and 10 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Both MLME and dMA (10 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg oral route respectively) exhibited significant increase in phenobarbitone induced sleeping time, greater reduction in spontaneous motor activity and marble burying activity, confirming their sedative nature. Both MLME and dMA also exhibited considerable antinociceptive activity in experimental animals. The results suggest that both MLME and dMA have CNS depressant activity in mice.

Evaluation of analgesic, neuropharmacological and cytotoxic activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.

The present study was carried out to investigate the possible analgesic, neuropharmacological and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. leaves. The analgesic and neuropharmacological activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. were investigated at the doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of body weight in mice. Analgesic potential of the extract was evaluated for centrally acting analgesic property using tail immersion method and peripheral analgesic actions using acetic acid-induced writhing test. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, extract produced a significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of writhing response in a dose dependent manner but maximum inhibition (93.46%) of writhing was found at 400mg/kg dose. In tail immersion method, extract caused a significant (p < 0.001) increase in latency time and the results were comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac- Sodium. In addition, neuropharmacological property of crude extract was carried out by Hole cross and Open field test. The extract significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) displayed a dose dependent suppression of motor activity, exploratory behaviour. Furthermore, the extract was subjected to Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay for primary evaluation of cytotoxicity, where the extract was found to be highly toxic to Brine Shrimp nauplii, having LC50 values of 10μg/ml while the LC50 of the reference anticancer drug vincristine sulphate was 0.66μg/ml. The results of this present study suggest that the extract possesses analgesic, cytotoxic and CNS depressant activities.

Central nervous system depressant effects of the ethanolic extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.).

The ethanolic leaf extract of Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) was intended to evaluate the effect on the central nervous system (CNS) using a number of neuropharmacological experimental models in mice. The extract, at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, were shown to have CNS depressant activity by the reduction of locomotor and exploratory activities in the open field and hole cross tests. These results suggest that the extract possess CNS depressant activity. The results of statistical analysis showed that the plant extract had significant, (p<0.001) dose dependent, CNS depressant activities when compared to the control.

Evaluation of analgesic, neuropharmacological and cytotoxic activity of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn.

The present study was carried out to investigate the possible analgesic, neuropharmacological and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. leaves. The analgesic and neuropharmacological activities of Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. were investigated at the doses of 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of body weight in mice. Analgesic potential of the extract was evaluated for centrally acting analgesic property using tail immersion method and peripheral analgesic actions using acetic acid-induced writhing test. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, extract produced a significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of writhing response in a dose dependent manner but maximum inhibition (93.46%) of writhing was found at 400mg/kg dose. In tail immersion method, extract caused a significant (p < 0.001) increase in latency time and the results were comparable to the standard drug Diclofenac- Sodium. In addition, neuropharmacological property of crude extract was carried out by Hole cross and Open field test. The extract significantly (p < 0.05-0.001) displayed a dose dependent suppression of motor activity, exploratory behaviour. Furthermore, the extract was subjected to Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay for primary evaluation of cytotoxicity, where the extract was found to be highly toxic to Brine Shrimp nauplii, having LC50 values of 10μg/ml while the LC50 of the reference anticancer drug vincristine sulphate was 0.66μg/ml. The results of this present study suggest that the extract possesses analgesic, cytotoxic and CNS depressant activities.