PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF WILLUGHBEIA EDULIS ROXB AVAILABLE IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Purpose: The present study was an attempt to investigate the phytochemical constituent and to explore the analgesic activity of n- butanol fraction of ethanol extract of Willughbeia edulis (Family: Apocynaceae). Methods: The n- butanol fraction of ethanol extract of Willughbeia edulis was investigated by hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing methods to assess its analgesic activity. Result: In the hot plate method, the extract caused significant (p<0.001) inhibition of pain response (64.65% and 77.32% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight). It was found that the extract caused an inhibition of writhing response induced by acetic acid in a dose dependent manner. The extract of Willughbeia edulis and Diclofenac sodium produced a significant (P< 0.01) inhibition of the second phase response in the acetic acid pain model while the two doses of the extract showed an analgesic effect in the first phase. Conclusion: The result indicates significant analgesic activity of Willughbeia edulis on animal models which are comparable with those of standard drugs