title: Antinociceptive, muscle relaxant and sedative activities of gold nanoparticles generated by methanolic extract of Euphorbia milii.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nanotechnology has potential future for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing the unwanted effects of herbal drugs. The biological research on Euphorbia species has been supported by the use of some plants in traditional medicines. Many species of Euphorbia have been reported as having strong sedative and analgesic effects. In the present research work gold nanoparticles of Euphorbia milii methanolic extract (Au-EM) were synthesized, characterized and tested for antinociceptive, muscle relaxant and sedative activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Au-EM was prepared by stirring 1 mM warm trihydrated tetrachloroaurate solution with E. milii methanolic extract without using any external reducing agents. The gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, infrared spectrophotometery, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy while their stability was evaluated against varying pH and different volumes of sodium chloride (NaCl). The metal sensing capacity of Au-EM was tested towards cobalt, copper, lead, mercury and nickel. Au-EM was evaluated in BALB/c mice at a dose of 10 and 20 mg/kg for antinociceptive, muscle relaxant and sedative activities in comparison with the crude E. milii methanolic extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Au-EM showed remarkable stability in different NaCl and pH solutions. Au-EM produced significant (P < 0.01) antinociceptive effect at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg as compared to the crude E. milii methanolic extract. In the rotarod test, Au-EM showed significant muscle relaxant effect at 10 mg/kg (P < 0.05) and 20 mg/kg (P < 0.01) after 30, 60 and 90 min. In an open field test significant sedative effect (P < 0.05) of Au-EM was observed at 10 and 20 mg/kg. Moreover significant detection sensitivity was demonstrated towards all the tested heavy metals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results concluded that the gold nanoparticles improved the potency of E. milii methanolic extract and exhibited significant analgesic, muscle relaxant and sedative properties. The significant metals sensing ability and enhanced stability in different NaCl and pH solutions may enable us to explore different formulations of E. milii gold nanoparticles for potentially effective and safe nano-herbal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan. islanaz@yahoo.com.|Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan. islanaz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Nazar Ul
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan. ibrahimchemist87@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan. mashaljcs@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Abdur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan. drnaveedrph@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Naveed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar, Pakistan. shahidsalim_2002@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan. raza_shahm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Raza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004355:Drug Stability; D028481:Euphorbia; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D017612:Gold Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D002712:Chlorides; D004337:Drug Carriers; D017612:Gold Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D010936:Plant Extracts; D006046:Gold; C024568:gold tetrachloride, acid