title: Evaluation of antinociceptive effect of methanolic extract of leaves of Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Crataeva nurvala Buch.-Ham. (Family: Capparidaceae) is widely used as anti-inflammatory, contraceptive, laxative, lithotropic, febrifuge and as tonic in traditional medicine. This study evaluated the antinociceptive effect of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Crataeva nurvala (MECN).
  
  
  METHODS
  The antinociceptive activity was investigated using heat-induced (hot-plate and tail-immersion test) and chemical-induced (acetic acid, formalin and glutamic acid) nociception models in mice at different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) of MECN. Morphine sulphate (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and diclofenac sodium (10 mg/kg, i. p.) were used as reference analgesic drugs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MECN produced significant dose-dependent antinociception when assessed using hot plate test, tail immersion test and acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test (65.55%). Likewise, MECN at similar doses produced significant dose-dependent inhibition in both neurogenic (50.82%) and inflammatory pain (73.53%) induced by intraplantar injection of formalin (2.5% formalin, 20 μl/paw). Besides, MECN also significantly inhibited the glutamate-induced (10 μM/paw) pain in mice (74.68%). It was demonstrated that pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reversed antinociception produced by MECN in hot plate and tail immersion test suggesting the involvement of opioid receptor. In addition, administration of glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, i.p.), an ATP-sensitive K+ channel antagonist could not reverse antinociceptive activity induced by MECN.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that MECN possesses antinociceptive activity involving inhibition of opioid system as well as the glutamatergic system supporting its traditional uses.
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moniruzzaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Stamford University Bangladesh, 51 Siddeswari Road, Dhaka 1217, Bangladesh. zafarimam@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Zafar
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Imam
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D031483:Capparaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009270:Naloxone; D000432:Methanol