Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants: a mini review.

Mangrove plants are specialised plants that grow in the tidal coasts of tropic and subtropic regions of the world. Their unique ecology and traditional medicinal uses of mangrove plants have attracted the attention of researchers over the years, and as a result, reports on biological activity of mangrove plants have increased significantly in recent years. This review has been set out to compile and appraise the results on antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants. While the Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and PubMed were the starting points to gather information, other pieces of relevant published literature were also adequately explored for this purpose. A total of 29 reports on 17 plant species have been found to report such activities. While 19 reports were on the biological activity of the crude extracts, 10 reports identified the active compound(s) of various chemical classes of natural products including terpenes, steroids, and flavonoids. This review finds that antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity appears to be widespread in mangrove plants.

Assessment of neuropharmacological activities of Pandanus foetidus (Pandanaceae) in mice.

The methanol extract of the leaves of Pandanus foetidus Roxb. (Pandanaceae) was assessed for neuropharmacological activities in mice using a number of experimental models. The extract dose-dependently inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice when given at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. At the same dose levels, it significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice, and showed mild to moderate central nervous system depressant activity when assessed by the hole cross and the open field tests in mice model. On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that the extract exerts its depressant effect on the central nervous system in mice by interfering with the cortical function.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of Cyperus rotundus.

The methanol extract of Cyperus rotundus rhizome, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w., showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice. Among the fractions, tested at 250 mg/kg, the petroleum ether fraction (PEF) and residual methanol fraction (RMF) were found to retain the activity, the latter being more active as compared to the control. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) did not show any antidiarrhoeal activity.

Antibacterial activity of Ludwigia adscendens.

Methanolic extract of whole plants of Ludwigia adscendens was studied for its antibacterial activity. The extract showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against all the bacteria tested except Stapylococcus aureus.

Analgesic activity of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber.

The methanol extract of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber, given orally at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed significant analgesic activity in mice.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol extract of the barks of Xylocarpus moluccensis in castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea models in mice.

The methanol (MeOH) extract of the barks of Xylocarpus moluccensis, and different fractions of this extract were studied for antidiarrhoeal activity using castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea models in mice. At the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, the MeOH extract showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in both models. The EtOAc fraction (EAF) and the residual MeOH fraction (RMF) exhibited similar activity using a dose of 250 mg/kg in both models. No antidiarrhoeal activity was observed with the chloroform fraction (CHF) at the test doses. When tested for antibacterial effect, the MeOH extract displayed moderate inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Shigella dysentery, Staphylococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter aerogenes. While the CHF inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the EAF was active against all test organisms except Vibrio cholera and Staphylococcus epidermis. The RMF inhibited the growth of all the test organisms with moderate zone of inhibition. On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that Xylocarpus moluccensis could be a potential source for novel 'lead' discovery for antidiarrhoeal drug development.

Antinociceptive activity of Ceriops decandra leaf and pneumatophore.

The ethanol extract of Ceriops decandra leaf and pneumatophore, at the oral doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed a dose-dependent and significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. On the contrary, the bark extract was devoid of any significant activity.

Antinociceptive activity of the aerial parts of Solanum xanthocarpum.

The methanolic extract of Solanum xanthocarpum aerial parts, given orally at 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, showed significant antinociceptive activity in mice.

Antinociceptive activity of Clausena excavata leaves.

The ethanolic extract of Clausena excavata leaves, given orally at doses of 125.25 and 500 mg/kg body weight, showed significant antinociceptive activity on acetic acid induced writhing in mice.

Analgesic sesquiterpene dilactone from Mikania cordata.

The crude extract of Mikania cordata (1 and 3 g/kg, p.o.) and deoxymikanolide (1) (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Three other sesquiterpene dilactones isolated from the same plant, namely mikanolide, dihydromikanolide and scandenolide, did not show significant analgesic activity.