Full HTML

Utilizing Acacia Nilotica aerial parts for peripheral pain relief

Hina Imran 1, Nighat Sultana 1, Tehmina Sohail 1, Engr. Mazhar Ali 1, Kiran Rafiq2

Author Affiliation

1PCSIR Labs Complex, Karachi, Pakistan
2Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Acacia nilotica, a medicinal plant from the Fabaceaefamily, is found in tropical and subtropical regions. It is used in traditional medicine for various ailments, but despite extensive scientific data, its analgesic properties remain under-researched.

Objective: Thus, this study aimed to assess the analgesic effects of A. nilotica aerial parts using an acetic-acid induced writhing model in crude ethanolic extract and its fractions (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate).

The study was designed and conducted at PCSIR Labs Complex, Karachi in May-June 2024. The methods and procedures were approved by the Committee for the Ethical Use of Experimental Animals at PCSIR Laboratory Complex, Karachi (IEC/AN-04). The analgesic effect of extracts of A. nilotica were investigated at doses 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, using acetic-acid induced writhing test in albino mice. Diclofenac sodium was used as standard. Twenty minutes post drug period show that all test groups had dose-dependent analgesic effects, characterized by reduction in the number of writhes.

Results: As compared to control group all test groups exerted a dose-dependent decrease in abdominal constriction. At 500 mg/kg body weight, the extremely significant activity was seen in the n-hexane fraction (76.5%; p<0.05>.

Conclusion: The conclusion of present study supports traditional claim of A. nilotica for treating pain and discomfort.

DOI: 10.18231/j.yjom.2024.024

Keywords: A. nilotica, crude extract, Fractions, Analgesic activity, Mice

Pages: 225-229

View: 2

Download: 9

DOI URL: http://doi.org/10.18231/j.yjom.2024.024

Publish Date: 15-12-2024

Full Text

Introduction

Pain, being an acute sensation of discomfort, may serve as a potential indicator of physical harm or disorder, and needs individual attention to effectively address and alleviate the stimulus causing the pain. 1 A drug that relives pain without loss of consciousness is known as analgesic or pain killer (tablets, gels, ointments etc) 2 despite the availability of adequate medications, pain and inflammation remain major health problems and are considered the main clinical, social and economic issues. 3 In numerous instances, pain- relieving medications that have been extensively utilized in the past few decades can solely alleviate 50% of the pain experienced by approximately one-third of patients, while also being associated with significant adverse reactions. 4 Peoples mostly from developing countries preferred herbal medicines to cure various health issues due to their easy availability, safety and cost-effectiveness. It is estimated that approximately one quarter of approved modern medicines are derived from herbal substances and still continuous 

research is being going on to introduce effective, safe and economical drugs from plant origin. 5 

Acacia  Nilotica  (Babool,  kikar)  is  a  member of Fabaceae family with many therapeutic properties. It is found in Africa, Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. 6,7 Almost every part of it (seeds, gum, flowers, leaves, bark, roots and pods) has important therapeutic properties and is used to treat diarrhea, dysentery, piles, periodontitis, abdominal pain, sore throat, diabetes, asthma and hypertension. 8,9 There are number of powerful phytochemicals present in A. nilotica having medicinal values, proven by scientific data. 10,11 Although the vast scientific data is reported on this plant but till date, no analgesic study has been conducted to evaluate its aerial parts of A. nilotica. Therefore, the present study used the acetic acid-induced writhing test model to evaluate the analgesic activity of the crude ethanol extract and its derived fractions in albino mice (Figure 1).

References

  1. HA-Ur-Rahman. Syed Intasar Hussain Taqvi, Tehmina Sohail, Zahra Yaqeen, Zakir-ur Rehman and Nudrat Fatima Pharmacological rational of dry ripe fruit of Aegle marmelos L. as an anti- nociceptive agent in different painful conditions. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2015;28(2):515–9.
  2. Jafri R, Imran H, Ahmed A, Sohail T, Ahmed I, Yaqeen Z. Formulation and screening of analgesic activity of different analgesic gel preparations. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2019;32(5):2149–53.
  3. Yimer T, Birru EM, Adugna M, Geta M, Emiru YK. Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of 80% Methanol Root Extract of Echinops kebericho M. (Asteraceae). J Inf Res. 2020;13:647–58.
  4. Fan SH, Ali NA, Basri DF. Evaluation of Analgesic Activity of the Methanol Extract from the Galls of Quercus infectoria (Olivier) in Rats. Evid Based Complemen Alter Med. 2014;2014:1–6.
  5. Afsar T, Khan MR, Razak S, Ullah S, Mirza B. Antipyretic, anti- inflammatory and analgesic activity of Acacia hydaspica R. Parker and its phytochemical analysis. BMC Compl Alter Med. 2015;15(136):1– 12.
  6. Munira S, Naim Z, Akter S, Majumder R, Kabir MH, Alam MB. Evaluation of Analgesic, Anti-Inflammatory and CNS Depression Activities of the Methanolic Extract of Acacia nilotioca Seed. Eur J Biol Sci. 2013;5(4):123–30.
  7. Ohouko O, Koudouvo K, Dougnon JT, Soha AS, Adouko J, Agbonon
    1. Review on secondary metabolites and therapeutics activities of Acacia nilotica used in African phytomedicine. J Phytopharma. 2020;9(2):149–54.
  8. Salissou MTM, Tanko Y, Yaro AH, Magaji R. Analgesic and Anti- inflammatory Activities of N-buthanol Portion of Acacia nilotica Pods in Mice and Wistar rats. Int J Sci Res Manag (IJSRM). 2022;10(1):519–30.
  9. Abduljawad EA. Review of some evidenced medicinal activities of Acacia Nilotica. Archives of Pharmacy Practice. Arch Pharm Pract. 2020;11(4):20–5.
  10. Kumari R, Mishra RC, Sheoran R, Yadav JP. Fractionation of Antimicrobial Compounds from Acacia nilotica Twig Extract against Oral Pathogens. Biointerface Res Appl Chem. 2020;10(6):7097–105.
  11. Al-Rajhi A, Qanash H, Bazaid AS, Binsaleh NK, Abdelghany TM. Pharmacological Evaluation of Acacia nilotica Flower Extract against Helicobacter pylori and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma, In Vitro and In Silico. J Funct Biomat. 2023;14(237):1–19.
  12. Sadiq MB, Tharaphan P, Chotivanich K, Tarning J, Ana AK. In vitro antioxidant and antimalarial activities of leaves, pods and bark extracts of Acacia nilotica (L.) Del. B. MC Comp Alter Med. 2017;17:1–8.
  13. Park M, Kim M. Analysis of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Solvent Fractions from Rhynchosia nulubilis Cultivated with Ganoderma lucidum Mycelium. . Prevent Nutr Food Sci. 2017;22(4):365–71.
  14. Ayanaw MA, Yesuf JS, Birru EM. Evaluation of Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Methanolic Leaf and Root Extracts of Gomphocarpus purpurascens A. Rich (Asclepiadaceae) in Mice. J Experimental Pharm. 2023;15:1–11.
  15. Mamun-Or-Rashid MD, Islam A, Amran MS, Hossain MA. Evaluation of Analgesic Activity by Acetic Acid Induced Writhing Method of Crude Extracts of Acacia nilotica. Scholars Acad J Pharm. 2017;6(4):126–38.
  16. Alli LA, Nafiu MO, Adesokan AA, Akanji MA, Tijani AY, Salawu OA. Antipyretic and analgesic activities of aqueous extract of Acacia nilotica root. Biokemistri. 2014;26(2):55–62.
  17. Batiha GE, Akhtar N, Alsayegh AA, Abusudah WF, Almohmadi NH, Shaheen HM. Bioactive Compounds, Pharmacological Actions, and Pharmacokinetics of Genus Acacia. Molecules. 2022;27(1):1–22.
  18. Banso A. Phytochemical and antibacterial investigation of bark extracts of Acacia nilotica. J Med Plants Res. 2009;3(2):82–5.
  19. Jagtap UB, Bapat VA. A review of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. Sustain Chem Pharm. 2015;129(2):12–30.
  20. Jame R. Phytochemical and Pharmacological Uses of Acacia Nilotica- A Review. Int J Bioorganic Chem. 2018;3(2):6–10.
  21. Bilal M, Naz A, Khan A, Salman ID, Ghaffar R, Abrar A. Assessment of Iris albicans lange as potential antimicrobial and analgesic agent. PLOS ONE. 2023;18(1):1–15.
  22. Tijjani MA, Mohammed GT, Alkali YT, Adamu TB, Abdurahaman FI. Phytochemical analysis, analgesic and antipyretic properties of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina Del. J Herbmed Pharma. 2017;6(3):95–9.
  23. Umamageswari MS, Maniyar YA. Evaluation of analgesic activity of aqueous extract of leaves of Solanum Melongena Linn in experimental animals. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2015;8(1):327–30.
  24. Ullah R, Alsaid MS, Alqahtani AS, Shahat AA, Naser AN, Mahmood HM, et al. Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and antioxidant activities of Haloxylon salicornicum aqueous fraction. Open Chem. 2019;17(1):1034–42.
  25. Siddiqui FA, Ahmad M, Mehjabeen M, Sajid JN. Phytochemical screening and assessment of analgesic, Anti-inflammatory and hematological properties of the fruit of Berberis baluchistanica. Pak J Pharm Sci. 2017;30(3):1007–12.