Pain management in mice using the aqueous and ethanol extracts of four medicinal plants
Debella, A.; Makonnen, E.; Abebe, D.; Teka, F.; Kidanemariam, A.T.
East African Medical Journal 80(8): 435-439
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 14601787 Document Number: 554318
The analgesic properties of aqueous and ethanol extracts from the leaves of Ocimum suave, O. lamiifolium, Lippia adoensis and Ajuga remota collected from Ethiopia were evaluated. The extracts were evaluated against distilled water and standard analgesics (morphine and acetylsalicylic acid) in acetic-acid-induced writhing tests in mice. The extracts were administered at low (400 mg/kg body weight), medium (600 mg/kg) and high (800 mg/kg) dosage. The extracts exhibited analgesic effects against acetic-acid-induced pain in a dose-dependent manner. The ethanol extracts were more potent than the aqueous extracts except for O. suave and L. adoensis, for which the opposite was observed. The extracts showed less analgesic effect than the standard analgesics. The ethanol extract of O. lamiifolium was the most potent, whereas the aqueous extract of the same plant was the least potent. The extracts at low dosage resulted in 100% relief from acetic-acid-induced pain.