title: Antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and neuropharmacological activities of Barringtonia acutangula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. (Lecythidaceae) has been used in folk medicine in the treatment of arthralgia, chest pain, dysmenorrhea, inflammation, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and also in psychological disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and neuropharmacological effect of the methanol extract of B. acutangula leaves and seeds in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg; p.o.) were tested for antinociceptive activity by acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate and tail immersion models; castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrheal models were used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity whereas hole cross and open field models were employed for testing neuropharmacological activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both extracts exhibited significant antinociceptive effect (p < 0.001) in acetic acid and heat induced pain models in a dose-dependent manner. The extracts prolonged the latency period to the thermal stimuli in both hot plate and tail immersion test. The extracts also showed significant inhibition of defecation (p < 0.001, 0.01) in both diarrheal models. Again, the spontaneous motor activity was decreased (p < 0.001) by the extracts in both hole cross and open field test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the methanol extracts of B. acutangula leaves and seeds possess good antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and central nervous system (CNS) depressant activities. This study validates the use of this plant in traditional medicine.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh. zafarimam@gmail.com
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Zafar Imam
authors: Shamima
authors: S
authors: Sultana
authors: Saleha
authors: S
authors: Akter
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001459:Bangladesh; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D051379:Mice; D059226:Nociceptive Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059265:Visceral Pain / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D010936:Plant Extracts