Antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and antibacterial properties of tamarix indica roots

Abstract

The present study investigated pharmacological activities to provide scientific basis to traditional usage of Tamarix indica. Phytochemical analysis of the dried roots of Tamarix indica (Tamaricaceae) indicated the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The pharmacological interest of these compounds, coupled with the use of this plant in traditional medicine prompted the researchers to check for its possible antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities in animal models. The antinociceptive activity was studied using acetic acid-induced writhing in mice while anti-inflammatory tests were studied by using carrageenin induced rat paw edema model. Moreover, antibacterial activities were studied by using the disc diffusion method. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 500 mg kg-1 body weight (p<0.001) comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg kg-1 of body weight. When given orally to rats at dose of 200 and 400 mg kg-1, the extract showed a significant (p<0.001) anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced paw edema in rats comparable to the standard drug aspirin. Moreover, The extract of Tamarix indica exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Shigella sonnie, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Streptococcus epidermidis, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus with the zones of inhibition ranging from 10.76 to 16.34 mm. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation. © 2011 Asian Network for Scientific Information.