title: Analgesic activity of aqueous extract of Stereospermum kunthianum (Cham, Sandrine Petit) stem bark.
abstract: The analgesic activity of the aqueous extract of Stereospermum kunthianum stem bark was studied using the acetic acid-induced writhing, the hot plate test, tail flick test, and formalin pain test in mice or rats. The aqueous extract (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) produced a significant (p<0.001) dose-dependent inhibition of abdominal writhes in mice. The results of the hot plate test showed a dose-related and time-dependent significant (P<0.001) increase in pain threshold in mice 60 minutes after treatment at all the doses used in the study. The extract (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) showed significant (p <0.05) dose-dependent increase in tail flick latency in rats and also inhibited both phases of the formalin pain test in mice with a more intense effect on the first phase than the second phase. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of Stereospermum kunthianum stem bark possesses analgesic activity which is mediated through both central and peripheral mechanisms. This is a possible rationale for its use in traditional human medicine for pain relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. idelching@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Fidelis P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Eric K I
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Omogbai
authors.forename: Raymond I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Ozolua
authors.forename: Stephen O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Okpo
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D029402:Bignoniaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D010936:Plant Extracts