Solanum incanum Linnaeus is traditionally used for treatment of pain and other ailments. But there is no scientific evidence on its analgesic activity to-date. Thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activities of 80% methanol leaf extract of S.incanum in mice. After extraction of the crude using 80% methanol, S.incanum extract was evaluated for analgesic activity in hot plate test and acetic-acid induced writhing test. Mice were randomly assigned to different groups and treated with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of the extract and reference control groups (morphine 5mg/kg and Aspirin 150 mg/kg) and negative control were treated with 2% tween 80. In the hot-plate method, all doses of the extract and the standard drug of morphine prolonged the reaction time significantly (p<0.05, or p<0.01 or p<0.001) as compared to negative control throughout the observation period. Prolongation of reaction time produced by 100mg/kg of the extract was lower (p<0.01) compared to morphine, 200mg/kg, and 400mg/kg at 90 and 120 min. However, middle and higher dose exerts comparable result at 30, 60 and 90and 120 min in relation to the standard drug. In addition 80% methanol extract of S.incanum showed a significant protection (p<0.05) against acetic acid induced writhing compared to negative control. The extract produced a significant analgesic activity with 55.6, 38.2 and 44.8% inhibition of number of writhing at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg dose levels, respectively. In conclusion, this study clearly suggests that 80% methanol leaf extract of S. incanum is endowed with central and peripheral analgesic activity. Hence, the findings collectively uphold the traditional use of the plant for pain treatment.
Keywords: Analgesic, S.incanum , Hot plate, Acetic acid
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