ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF METHANOL LEAF EXTRACT OF MOMORDICA FOETIDA (SCHUMACH) IN ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Background Momordica foetida is been used traditionally in the management of several diseases including pain. However, there is no scientific evidence to validate its efficacy. Objective The aim of this study, therefore, is to investigate the analgesic activity of its methanol leaf extract. Methods The oral median lethal dose (LD50) in albino rats was determined using Lorke’s method. The tail immersion in hot water and formalin-induced tests in albino rats were used to evaluate its analgesic activity at 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg, doses and tramadol was employed as the standard analgesic agent. Results The LD50 value of the plant extract was found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg. The plant produced a significant (p<0.01) pain latency at the 1,000 mg/kg dose at time 150 minutes as compared to the control group. However, the lower doses (500 and 250 mg/kg) failed to significantly increase the pain latency time. The pain due to formalin was also significantly (p<0.05 and p<0.01) inhibited by the 1,000 mg/kg dose of the extract in both phases of formalininduced pain. Meanwhile, the lower doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) were only effective in the second phase (p<0.05). Conclusion Based on the findings, it was concluded that the present study has demonstrated the analgesic potential of methanol leaf extract of Momordica foetida in experimental animals and thus validates the folkloric use of the plant in the management of pain and related conditions. The plant is also safe when taken orally.