title: Central-stimulating and analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alternanthera sessilis is a popular vegetable and used in traditional medicinal practice of Bangladesh and other parts of Asia to relive tiredness, laziness, and sleeps as well as pain and inflammation. However, no report was found on the neuropharmacological and analgesic activity of this plant to-date. Present study was undertaken to evaluate the neuropharmacological and analgesic activity of the ethanol extract of A. sessilis whole plant (ETAS) in mice models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Central stimulating activity was investigated by pentobarbitone induced sleeping time, open field, and hole cross tests. Analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid induced writhing and hot-plate methods. The tests were performed at 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight dose levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In sleeping time test, ETAS significantly (p < 0.001) increased the onset of sleep, and decreased the duration of sleep. In open field and hole cross tests, ETAS significantly (p < 0.001) increased the movements of mice which persisted throughout the study period. In writhing test, ETAS showed, significant (p < 0.001) inhibition of writhing reflex. In hot plate test, ETAS significantly (p < 0.001) raised the pain threshold. In HPLC analysis for polyphenols, (+)-catechin, rutin, ellagic acid, and quercetin were detected in ETAS (117.72, 490.74, 3007.26, and 13.85 mg/100 g of dry extract, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Present study supported the traditional uses of A. sessilis and indicated that the plant can be a potential source of bioactive molecules.
authors.forename: Himangsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Sanjib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: Khalijah
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awang
authors.forename: Hemayet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Abdulwali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ablat
authors.forename: Md Khirul
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Ismet Ara
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.forename: Samir K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sadhu
authors.forename: Md Golam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Jamil A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Shilpi
authors.affiliation: Phytochemistry and Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Pharmacy Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh. uddinsj@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Shaikh J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Uddin
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts