Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of in-vivo Analgesic Activity of Pterocarpus indicus Leaf

Abstract

This study aimed to conduct phytochemical screening and evaluation of the in-vivo analgesic activity of methanol extract and its different fractions of Pterocarpus indicus leaves. The phytochemical screening was done by following the standard procedures. The phytochemical screening of methanol extract of P. indicus leaves indicates the presence of carbohydrates, alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponins, fats, oils, terpenoids, flavonoids, and resins. The analgesic activity was evaluated by two methods: namely the acetic acid-induced writhing and the formalin-induced paw-licking method. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, dichloromethane fraction (PIDCM) showed significant (p<0.001) and highest potential as a peripheral analgesic by giving 89.49% of inhibition at a dose of 400 mg/kg and 71.85% of inhibition at a dose of 200 mg/kg as compared to control and standard (91. 18%). At both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg), the crude methanol extract (PIME) and its n-hexane fraction (PINH) showed significant (p<0.001) peripheral analgesic activity as compared to the control. In the formalin-induced paw-licking test, PINH (400 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg dose; p<0.001) showed significant and effective peripheral analgesic activity with 87.54 and 78.39% of inhibition, respectively. The extract PINH (400 mg/kg dose; p<0.01) showed significant and moderate central analgesic activity by giving 33.34% of inhibition. PIDCM (400 mg/kg dose; p<0.001) showed an effective peripheral analgesic effect as compared to control with 74.53% of inhibition. This plant could be a potential source for the development of newer natural therapeutic analgesic entities.

 The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci. Vol. 11 (1 & 2): 52-60, 2023