Vol 4/2 (2004) 127 - 127

130

JOURNAL OF NATURAL REMEDIES

Anti-nociceptive activity of Mundulea sericea leaves

M. Iyer*, R. Karode, R. Deshmukh, V. Deshmukh

Department of Pharmacology, M. G. V’s Pharmacy College, Panchavati, Nashik- 422003.

Abstract

Objective: To study the analgesic activity of leaves of Mundulea sericea. Methods: Methanolic extract
(30 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg) of Mundulea sericea (Leguminosae, subfamily Papilionaceae) was investigated
for analgesic activity using acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion method. The extract was
studied for its effect on pentobarbitone-induced sleep and on gross behavior. Results: Methanolic
extract (30 mg/kg and 70 mg/kg) significantly increased latency to flick tail in tail immersion test and
reduced the number of writhings induced by acetic acid. The extract increased the duration of
pentobarbitone-induced sleep. No adverse effects were observed upto a dose of 200 mg/kg of the extract.
Conclusion: Leaves of Mundulea sericea possess central as well as peripheral analgesic activity.
Key words: Mundulea sericea, analgesic, tail immersion, writhing.

1. Introduction

Mundulea sericea (Leguminosae, subfamily pharmacological screening of methanolic

Papilionaceae) is a stout erect shrub, 3.0-4.5m extract of M. sericea, an analgesic activity was
high, it is found in dry forests and rocky hills observed. This prompted us to investigate the
of West and South India. It possesses analgesic activity of M. sericea.
insecticidal and piscicidal properties [1]. Its
2. Materials and methods
bark contains a toxic glycoside, a non-
alkaloidal thermostable principle with a marked 2.1 Preparation of extract
central nervous system depressant action. Shade dried leaves of M. sericea were collected
Ethanolic extract of fruits and leaves of from Sinnar taluka of Nashik and authenticated.
M. sericea are active against gram positive 500 g of dried leaves were powdered and defatted
bacteria and M. tuberculosis [2]. The seeds with petroleum ether (60-80°C) using Soxhlet’s
are used in southern and western India as fish apparatus. The marc was then subjected to
poison [3]. Literature survey indicated scanty extraction using methanol. The solvent was
reports on the pharmacological studies of concentrated under reduced pressure, evaporated
M. sericea. During our preliminary to dryness. This gave a yield of 1.3% w/w.

Correspondance to :
E. Mail: [email protected]
128 M. Iyer et al. / Journal of Natural Remedies, Vol 4/2 (2004) 127 - 130

Prelimnary phytochemical screening were 20 min were noted [6]. Percentage protection
carried out using standard procedures. [4] against writhing was taken as index of analgesia,
and it was calculated as:
2.2 Animals
Swiss albino mice (20-25 g) were obtained from No of writhing in control animals -
National Toxicology Centre, Pune. Animals were No of writhing in treated animals X 100
housed into groups of five at an ambient temp of No of writhing in control animals.
25±1°C. Animals had free access to food 2.4.2 Pentobarbitone potentiation
(Hindustan Lever, India) and water. Animals were
deprived of food but not water 4 h before the Female mice were divided into 3 groups (n=6).
experiment. The Institutional Animal Ethical The animals received the extract (30 mg/kg and
Committee approved the protocol of this study. 70 mg/kg) or vehicle 30 min prior to
pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg i.p.). The onset and
2.3 Drugs and Chemicals duration of sleep were measured. Sleeping time
Pentobarbitone (40 mg/kg, i.p), Pentazocine was measured as the interval between the loss
(17.5 mg/kg,i.p), Acetyl salicylic acid(ASA) and recovery of righting reflex [7].
(100mg/kg, p.o) were used in the study. The 2.5 Effect on gross behaviour
drugs were dissolved in the water for injection
before administration. The methanol extract of Mice of either sex were divided into 4 groups
M. sericea was suspended in PEG-400 (just (n=6). They were administered the extract at a
sufficient to dissolve) and administered dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg /kg and observed
intraperitoneally. for gross behavioral changes. Animals were
observed for activity, grooming, convulsions,
2.4 Tail immersion method sedation, and hypothermia for 4 h after
Mice of either sex were used. They were divided administration of extract.
into 5 groups (n=6) and treated either with vehicle,
2.6 Statistical analysis
methanolic extract of M.sericea (10,30,70 mg/
kg) and Pentazocine (17.5 mg/kg). The tip of All values are shown as mean ± SEM. The
the mouse’s tail was immersed in hot water results were statistically analyzed using one
maintained at 55 ± 0.5°C. The time taken by the way analysis of variance followed by
mouse to withdraw the tail from hot water was Dunnett’s test. P < 0.05 was considered
noted as reaction time. The animals that showed significant.
responses upto 30 seconds were included in the 3. Result and discussion
study and the experiment was terminated at
The preliminary phytochemical screening of
30 sec to avoid damage to the tail [5].
methanolic extract of Mundulea Sericea
2.4.1 Acetic acid induced writhing method showed the presence of saponins and
Mice were divided into 5 groups (n=6). Group triterpenes. In the tail immersion method, the
1 received vehicle, groups 2, 3 and 4 received methanolic extract (30 and 70 mg/kg) showed
extract (10, 30 and 70 mg/kg) respectively a significant increase in the latency to tail flick
while group 5 received ASA (100mg/kg,p.o). at 15, 30, 60 and 90 min (Table 1).The extract
This method involved injection of freshly also caused a significant inhibition of acetic
prepared solution of 0.7% acetic acid (10 ml/ acid - induced writhing in mice by 26.45%,
kg, i.p).The number of writhing in the following 56.45% and 72.06% at doses of 10, 30 and 70
 M. Iyer et al. / Journal of Natural Remedies, Vol 4/2 (2004) 127 - 130 129

Table 1
Effect of methanolic extract of M. sericea on latency to flick tail in mice.
Treatment Reaction time (sec)
0 min 15 min 30 min 60 min 90 min 120 min
Vehicle 2.0 ± 0.25 2.16 ± 0.30 2.33 ± 0.21 2.0 ± 0.25 2.0 ± 0.0 2.16 ± 0.30
M. sericea 2.0 ± 0.36 3.66 ± 0.21 2.33 ± 0.33 2.16 ± 0.30 2 ± 0.25 2 ± 0.25
(10 mg/kg)
M. sericea 2.66 ± 0.21 12 ± 0.68* 8.83 ± 0.41* 6.66 ± 0.33* 4.5 ± 0.34* 3.33 ± 0.21*
(30 mg/kg)
M. sericea 2.66± 0.21 20.33 ± 0.84* 10.83 ± 0.6* 6.66 ± 0.66* 3.66 ± 0.33* 2.16 ± 0.16
(70 mg/kg)
Pentazocine 2.33 ± 0.21 5 ± 0.365* 7.83 ± 0.47* 8.5 ± 0.43* 6.16 ± 0.30* 3.83 ± 0.30*
(17.5mg/kg)
F 1.67 190.64 71.28 45.88 39.13 15.33
n = 6, *P < 0.05 (ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test) compared with vehicle

mg/kg respectively when compared to control. In the present study, the methanolic extract of
ASA caused a 83.35% inhibition in the study Mundulea sericea leaves has shown analgesic
(Table 2). activity. The extract increases the latency to tail
flick in tail immersion method. It also inhibits
The extract also potentiated the duration of
acetic acid-induced writhing in a dose dependent
pentobarbitone-induced sleep (Table 3). In the
manner. Acetic acid induced writhing is a
study of the extract on gross behaviour the
sensitive method of screening anti-nociceptive
extract was found to be safe and no adverse
effects of compounds. It causes an increase in
effects were observed at a dose as high as 200
concentration of PGE 2 and PGF 2α in the
mg/kg but the animals were observed to be
peritoneal fluid (8, 9).
sedated.
The extract may therefore act via inhibition of
prostaglandin synthesis. In addition to the above
effects the methanolic extract of Mundulea
Table 2. sericea leaves has potentiated pentobarbitone-
Effect of methanolic extract of M. sericea on induced sleep. Thus it can be concluded that
acetic acid - induced writhing in mice.
leaves of Mundulea sericea contains bioactive
Treatment Number of % component(s) possessing anti-nociceptive
writhings inhibition
Vehicle 31.00 ± 1.06 -- properties that possess central as well as
M. sericea (10 mg/kg) 22.83 ± 0.94* 26.45 peripheral analgesic activities.
M. sericea (30 mg/kg) 13.50 ± 0.99* 56.45 This could be due to the effect of one or more
M. sericea (70 mg/kg) 8.66 ± 0.71* 72.06
combination of bioactive components in the
ASA (100mg/kg) 5.16 ± 0.70* 83.35
plant. Further studies shall aim at isolating,
F 140.77
characterizing and purifying compounds in this
n = 6, *P < 0.05 (ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s test)
compared with vehicle plant with potential bioactive properties.
130 M. Iyer et al. / Journal of Natural Remedies, Vol 4/2 (2004) 127 - 130

Table 3. 4. Acknowledgement
Effect of methanolic extract of M. sericea on
pentobarbitone - induced sleep in mice. The authors are thankful to Dr. D. R. Mahajan,
Sr. Lecturer in Botany, K. T. H. M. College,
Treatment Duration of
sleep (min) Nashik for identification of the plant and Prof.
Vehicle 66.67 ± 8.47 V. M. Aurangabadkar, Principal, M.G.V’s
M. sericea (30 mg /kg) 97.5 ± 8.36 Pharmacy College, Nashik, for providing the
M. sericea (70 mg /kg) 141 ± 12.33* necessary laboratory facilities.
F 14.25
n = 6, *P< 0.05 (ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test)
compared with vehicle.

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