title: Evaluation of analgesic activity of Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight and Arn bark: A tribal claim.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plants occupy an important place in folk medicine all over the world for centuries and indigenous communities have developed their own specific knowledge on plant resources, uses, management, and conservation. Research interest and activities in the area of ethno medicine have increased tremendously in the last decade. Currently, scientists are evincing keen interest in the scientific evaluation of ethno medical claims. Bark powder of Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna [Roxb.] Wight and Arn) is used by tribals for the management of some painful conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate analgesic activity of T. arjuna bark in rodents.
  
  
  METHODS
  For evaluation of analgesic activity, different experimental models, that is, the acetic acid-induced writhing syndrome in mice, formaldehyde-induced paw licking response and tail flick test in rats were designed. Experiments were carried out at two-dose levels, that is, therapeutically equivalent dose (TED) and TED × 2. Animals were divided into three groups (six animals in each group), first group serving as a control group, second and third group labeled as test drug group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test drug at both the doses significantly decreased the writhing syndrome in comparison to control the group. In comparison to control the group, incidences of formalin-induced paw licking were reduced in test drug groups in both early and late phases of pain. In tail flick response, threshold was significantly increased in both test drug groups at every time intervals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study showed that stem bark of T. arjuna possesses analgesic activity in all experimental models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ayurveda, Shri Ram Singh Hospital and Heart Institute, Krishnanagar, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Anurag
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Dravyaguna, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishteswar
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratory, Institute for Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Vinay J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Group, Research and Development, The Himalaya Drug Company, Bangaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Ashok
keywords: Arjuna bark; pain; reverse pharmacology