Evaluation of Analgesic Activities of Aqueous Leaf extract of Adansonia digitata L.(Malvaceae) in Mice
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51412/psnnjp.2026.006Keywords:
Adansonia digitata, analgesic activities, miceAbstract
Background: Adansonia digitata L. commonly known as African Baobab is widely used as food and in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various diseases.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic properties of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant in mice.
Methodology: Phytochemical screening of the extract was carried out according to the methods of Trease and Evans. The LD50 of the extract was determined using OECD Guideline 425. Acetic acid-induced writhing test as described by Koster et al. was used to investigate the peripheral analgesic activity of the extract, while the hot plate-induced pain model as described by Kumar et al. was used to evaluate central analgesic activity. In each of these models, twenty-five mice of both sexes weighing between 19-25 g were divided into five groups of five mice each. Group I (negative control) mice received 10 mL/kg normal saline, Group II (positive control) received 10 mg/kg diclofenac sodium (for acetic acid writhing test) or 10 mg/kg morphine sulfate (for hot plate-induced pain test), Groups III, IV and V received 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg doses of the extract respectively.
Results: Carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, steroids/terpenes, and cardiac glycosides were present while alkaloids and anthraquinones were absent in the extract. There were no signs of toxicity and mortality and the LD50 of the extract was estimated to be greater than 5000 mg/kg. The extract produced dose-dependent inhibition of abdominal writhing in mice with the 500 mg/kg dose showing a significantly higher (p < 0.05) analgesic activity than Diclofenac (62.5% inhibition Vs 45.8% inhibition). In the hot plate pain-induced model, the extract doses produced similar increases (p > 0.05) in reaction time when compared with morphine.
Conclusion: The results of this study support the ethnomedicinal use of Adansonia digitata aqueous leaf extract as an analgesic.
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