Abstract
Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw) Warb., Myristicaceae, is used in Nigeria folk medicine to treat complaints such as toothache, headache, sore throat, ulcers and wounds. The aim of the study was to investigate the antinociceptive and antiulcer activities of the stem bark extract of Pycnanthus angolensis. Acute toxicity was conducted with a single oral dose of 5 g/kg. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated in acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and tail immersion tests in mice while antiulcer activity was evaluated in ethanol and indomethacin-induced models in rats. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg, p.o.), significantly reduced the number of writhes (46.75%, 57.28% and 75.69%) respectively, compared to control. The extract significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the time spent in licking the hind paw at both phases, in formalin test. In tail immersion test, significant antinociceptive effect was only observed with the dose of 150 mg/kg, with peak effect at 90 min (43.38%). There is no significant change in the spontaneous locomotor activity of animals in the open field. The extract prevented the gastric ulceration caused by ethanol and indomethacin treatments compared to control. The results showed that P. angolensis extract possesses antinociceptive and antiulcer activities supporting the traditional use for relieving pain and ulcers.
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The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Muyiwa S. Fageyinbo and Seun Noreen.
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AOA contributed in collecting plant sample and identification, running the laboratory work and analysis of the data. MOS designed the study, supervised the laboratory work and wrote the manuscript. All the authors have read the final manuscript and approved submission.
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Sofidiya, M.O., Awolesi, A.O. Antinociceptive and antiulcer activities of Pycnanthus angolensis. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. 25, 252–257 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.05.004
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjp.2015.05.004