Antinociceptive effect of elaeagnus angustifolia fruits on sciatic nerve ligated mice

ABSTRACT

The role of Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit as an analgesic agent in acute pain has been proved earlier. In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of three parts of this fruit [pericarp, medulla and seed] on chronic pain were investigated in mice. A partial nerve injury was made using a tight ligature around the sciatic nerve, then doses [0.5, 1, 1.5 g/kg, i.p.] of pericarp, medulla and seed extracts were injected in nerve ligated mice. The effect of different doses of three parts of this fruit on chronic pain was examined 14 days after sciatic nerve ligation using the hot-plate test. Controls received saline [5 ml/kg, i.p.] and imipramine [40 mg/kg]. In the hot plate test, intraperitoneal injection of different doses of three parts of this fruit showed considerable analgesic effect on nerve ligated mice that was dose dependent with duration of action of 120 min. Administration of the aqueous extracts of pericarp, medulla and seed of E. angustifolia fruit indicated significant analgesic effect on chronic pain in nerve ligated animals