Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Lagenaria breviflora whole fruit in rat and mice

Niger J Physiol Sci. 2011 Nov 28;26(1):71-6.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of an ethanol extract of whole fruit of Lagenaria breviflora (LB) in rat and mice. Analgesic activity was measured by hot plate, formalin-induced paw licking, and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing tests, while anti-inflammatory activity was determined by inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Extract-treated animals exhibited significantly (P<0.05) higher pain threshold, lower number of licking of paws in response to formalin-induced irritation and writhing movements in response to acetic acid-induced writhing movement. There was significant (P<0.05) inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats pre-treated with the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) by 6.4%, 27.5%, 55.9% respectively. Analgesic effect of the extract (50, 100, 200mg/kg) in hot plate test was observable within 30 minutes of administration with maximum effect obtainable 90 minutes post-administration. Also, the effect of the extract (50, 100 and 200mg/kg) was dose dependent in both the early (88.17±6.21, 80.33±3.49 and 72.33±5.16) and late (72.50±3.95, 53.83±3.96 and 35.83±3.78) phases of formalin-induced paw licking, and in acetic acid-induced writhing with inhibition of 26.8%, 48.1% and 58.1% respectively. Its effect was comparable especially at 200mg/kg body weight to those of diclofenac, indomethacin and ibuprofen. It could be suggested from the findings of this experiment that the extract may be mediating its action as a central analgesic agent but the peripheral analgesic effect was preponderant based on its outcome from the pain models.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid
  • Analgesics / isolation & purification
  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Carrageenan
  • Cucurbitaceae / chemistry*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ethanol / chemistry*
  • Formaldehyde
  • Fruit
  • Hot Temperature
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain / prevention & control*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Pain Threshold / drug effects
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Solvents / chemistry*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Solvents
  • Formaldehyde
  • Ethanol
  • Carrageenan
  • Acetic Acid