Abstract

EVALUATION OF THE ANALGESIC PROPERTIES OF THE METHANOL ROOT EXTRACT OF ANTHOCLEISTA DJALONENSIS A.CHEV

Hope Delesi Kagbo* and Sandra Ebiere Simon

ABSTRACT

The root extract of Anthocleista djalonensis A.Chev. was prepared by maceration in methanol and the extract evaporated to dryness. The extract was investigated for analgesic properties in albino rats using chemical, mechanical and thermal models of pain. The formalin hind paw licking test which evaluates the response to neurogenic and inflammatory pains was used to study chemically induced pain. The animals were observed for paw licking for thirty minutes following subcutaneous administration of buffered formalin in the hind paw. Mechanical pain was induced by exertion of pressure on inflammed and hyperalgesic rat paw with the Analgesy-meter (UgoBasile Model No. 37215). The supraspinally mediated tail flick test, where the time it takes for the rat to withdraw its tail from an environment of adverse extreme of temperature is observed, was used to assess the effect of the extract on thermally induced pain. In all these models, the extract showed a significant (p<0.05 - 0.001), dose dependent inhibition of nociception. The result from this study therefore suggest that the extract act at central and peripheral sites to inhibit neurogenic and inflammatory pains.

Keywords: Anthocleista djalonensis, Randall-Selitto method, Tail Immersion Test, Formalin test.