Analgesic activity and safety assessment of heliotropium indicum linn. (boraginaceae) in rodents

Boye, A.; Koffuor, G.A.; Amoateng, P.; Ameyaw, E. O.; Abaitey, A.K.

Analgesic activity and safety assessment of heliotropium indicum linn. (boraginaceae) in rodents

Date

2012

Authors

Abstract

This study presented the analgesic and safety assessment of Heliotropium indicum, a plant traditionally used for the management of abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea and post-labour inflammatory conditions in Ghana using formalin-induced pain model in mice. For comparison of analgesic effect, morphine (1-10 mg kg-1) and diclofenac sodium (1-10 mg kg-1) were used as a reference opioid and NSAID, respectively. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts (30-300 mg kg-1) dose-dependently inhibited both the first and second phases of the formalin-induced nociception. Oral doses of the aqueous extract (1-5 g kg-1) in imprint control region mice were well tolerated in acute toxicity studies; however a 14-day oral administration of 1-2 g kg-1 of the extracts in sprague-Dawley rats produced pathologic effects on the heart, kidney, liver and lungs. Therefore, although the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of H. indicum have analgesic activity, it could have a cumulative toxic effects hence prolonged and continuous use is not advised.

Keywords

ANALGESICS; HELIOTROPIUM; RODENTS as laboratory animals; HERBS -- Therapeutic use; ABDOMINAL pain -- Treatment; PHARMACOLOGY

Citation

Boye, A., Koffuor, G. A., Amoateng, P., Ameyaw, E. O., & Abaitey, A. K. (2012). Analgesic activity and safety assessment of heliotropium indicum linn. (boraginaceae) in rodents.