Antinociceptive effects of dichloromethane extract of Euclea divinorum Lin

Abstract

There are numerous plants whose parts or extracts are used as folklore remedies for disorders such as pain alleviation in Africa. A great majority of these herbal remedies have not been bio- screened for their antinociceptive potential. Euclea divinorum is one such plant that falls within this group where extract from the plant parts is traditionally used in treatment of tooth ache, head ache, chest pain, arthritis, cancers and ulcers. Hence this study was motivated by the desire to scientifically evaluate the antinociceptive activity of the dichloromethane extract of the stem and root bark extract in rats. Pain was induced by injecting 5μl of 5% formalin solution in the sub- planta region of the left hind paw. The biting, lifting, licking and flitching of the affected paw was considered as a sign of pain in rats, and spent in that behavior was quantified from 0-5 minutes (acute pain) and 15-30 minutes inflammatory/neurogenic pain. Keywords: Euclea, divinorum, pain, inflammation, anti-nociceptive