Anti-nociceptive activity of combined methanol extract of edible fruit pulps of some medicinal plants

Abstract

The fruit pulps from Adansonia digitata, Hyphaene thebaica, Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus spina-christi are consumed locally in North-East Nigeria and are regarded as analgesics singly and as a recipe in folkloric use. This study investigated the anti-nociceptive properties of the combined methanol extract of the fruit pulps from these plants. Equal amount (200 g) of each fruit pulp was used to prepare methanol extract of the recipe. Standard methods were used for phytochemical analysis and LD50 determination. Acetic acid-induced writhing, analgesiometer and formalin test were used to study the anti-nociceptive activities in rats and mice at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, glycosides and terpenoids. The LD50 values were greater than 5000 mg/kg in both rats and mice using oral and intraperitoneal routes respectively. There was significant (p < 0.05) dose dependent anti-nociceptive activity at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg in acet ic acid induced writhing, analgesiometer and second phase of formalin test. The recipe’s activity was greater than that of diclofenac (control) in writhing test at 200 mg/kg and analgesiometer test at 400 mg/kg. The methanol extract of the fruit pulps recipe was safe and had dose-dependent anti-nociceptive activities in laboratory animals supporting the folkloric use of these fruits and recipe in the treatment of pain.