Evaluation of neuropharmacological, antibacterial and antinociceptive activity of methanolic extract of the bark of Cynometra ramiflora Linn.

Abstract

The crude methanolic extract of the bark of Cynometra ramiflora Linn. (Leguminosae) growing in southeast part of Bangladesh has been evaluated for its possible neuropharmacological, antibacterial and antinociceptive properties. The extract of Cynometra ramiflora bark potentiated the pentobarbital induced sleeping time in mice, decreased the open field score in open field test, decreased the number of hole crossed from one chamber in the hole cross test and decreased the head dip responses in hole board test. Acute toxicity test showed that the plant might be safe for pharmacological uses. Antibacterial activity of Cynometra ramiflora bark was tested by disk diffusion method. The extract exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Enterococci, Shigella boydii, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus epidermis. The methanolic extract exhibited statistically significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing model in white albino mice. The crude extract produced 48.62% inhibition of writhing at the dose of 250 mg/kg body weight and 63.89% inhibition of writhing at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, while the standard drug Diclofenac-Na inhibition was found to produce 69.45% at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight.