Open AccessANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF PET ETHER, AQUEOUS, AND HYDRO-ETHANOLIC LEAF EXTRACTS OF ASPILIA AFRICANA (PERS) C.D. ADAMS (ASTERACEAE) IN RODENTS
Author(s) -
George Asumeng Koffuor,
Ameyaw Elvis Ofori,
Oppong Kyekyeku James,
Amponsah Kingsley Isaac,
Sunkwa Andrews,
Semenyo Samuella Afriyie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international research journal of pharmacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2230-8407
DOI - 10.7897/2230-8407.04709
Subject(s) - petroleum ether , analgesic , chemistry , traditional medicine , terpenoid , acetic acid , nociception , capsaicin , potency , pharmacology , chromatography , medicine , in vitro , extraction (chemistry) , biochemistry , receptor
Traditionally, Aspilia africana is used in the management of pain in Ghana and most parts of West Africa. This study therefore investigated the analgesic effect of the petroleum ether, aqueous, and hydro-ethanolic leaf extracts of Aspilia africana using rodent models. Preliminary phytochemical screening was done on all the extracts, which showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, phytosterols and terpenoids. The extracts (40-400 mg/kg p.o.) were administered to Sprague-Dawley rats and tail flick latencies (Tail flick analgesic model) were measured in a preliminary analgesic study. The order of analgesic efficacy established was hydro-ethanolic > aqueous > petroleum ether extract. Thin layer and high performance liquid chromatographic analyses were carried out on the hydro-ethanolic extract to obtain chromatograms as fingerprints for identification purposes. These revealed seven spots (TLC) and two peaks (HPLC). Acetic acid-induced writhing and Capsaicin-induced nociception analgesic tests were carried out in ICR mice using the hydro-ethanolic leaf extract. This significantly (P ≤ 0.001) and dose-dependently suppressed the time-course of acetic acid-induced writhing and capsaicin-induced nociception similar to 10 mg/kg Diclofenac sodium (P ≤ 0.001) and 5 mg/kg, Ketamine (P ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, the leaf extracts of Aspilia africana has significant analgesic activity with the hydro-ethanolic extract being the most potent