Ighodaro Igbe
,
Tarimobowei Edike
For correspondence:-
Published: 31 December 2015
Citation: Igbe I, Edike T. In vivo antinociceptive activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Voacanga africana Stapf (Apocynaceae) in mice. J Sci Pract Pharm 2015; 2(1):51-54 doi: 10.47227/jsppharm.v2i1.11
© 2015 The author(s).
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Purpose: To investigate the analgesic activity and phytochemical constituents of aqueous extract of Voacanga africana leaves and validate it use in folklore medicine.
Methods: Crude leaves were extracted by percolation with distilled water. The antinociceptive properties of the extract were determined using the acetic acid-induced writhing and the hot plate test methods in mice. Phytochemical screening was determined using standard methods.
Results: The phytochemical constituents of the aqueous extract of Voacanga africana leaves present were alkaloids, anthranoids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides and saponins. Oral administration of the aqueous leaves extract (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) produced a significant (P<0.05) analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner in acetic acid induced writhing test. The extract (200 and 400mg/kg) significantly (P>0.05) prolonged the reaction latency time of pain in the hot plate test
Conclusion: The study showed that theaqueous extract of Voacanga africana appears to possess analgesic activity that appears to be peripherally and centrally mediated, thus justifying its use in traditional medicine.
