Abstract

ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF BOILED AND NON-BOILED BRASSICA OLERACEA L. VAR. GONGYLODES SWOLLEN STEMS

Md. Abu Jakaria, Hossain Ahmed, Md. Najmul Hossain, Shahnaz Rahman, Md. Shahadat Hossan, Md. Moshiur Rahman, Mohammed Rahmatullah*

ABSTRACT

Background. The objective of this study was to evaluate the analgesic potential of swollen stems of Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes, which are eaten in the cooked or boiled form in many parts of the world. Methods. Analgesic activity was determined through decreases by the methanol extract of non-boiled and boiled stems in intraperitoneally administered acetic acid induced writhings in Swiss albino mice. Results. There were no appreciable differences between alleviation of pain by non-boiled versus boiled extract. At doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg per kg body weight, the methanol extract of non-boiled stems dose-dependently and significantly reduced the number of acetic acid induced writhings by, respectively, 22.2, 40.7, 48.1, and 51.9%. At the same doses, the methanol extract of boiled stems dose-dependently and significantly reduced the number of writhings, respectively, by 22.2, 37.0, 48.1, and 51.9%. By comparison, a standard analgesic drug, aspirin, when administered at doses of 200 and 400 mg per kg reduced significantly the number of writhings by 33.3 and 51.9%, respectively. Thus at the highest dose tested, both extracts of non-boiled and boiled stems showed same efficacy as the highest dose of aspirin. Conclusion. Crude extract of both non-boiled and boiled stems are effective in alleviating pain.

Keywords: Analgesic, Brassica oleracea, kohlrabi, Brassicaceae.