Analgesic Activity and Safety Assessment of Heliotropium indicum Linn. (Boraginaceae) in Rodents

作者：Boye A; Koffuor G A^*; Amoateng P; Ameyaw E O; Abaitey A K

来源：International Journal of Pharmacology, 2012, 8(2): 91-100.

DOI：10.3923/ijp.2012.91.100

• Diclofenac
• morphine
• formalin-induced nociception
• sub-acute toxicity

This study presented the analgesic and safety assessment of Heliotropium indicum, a plant traditionally used for the management of abdominal pains, dysmenorrhoea and post-labour inflammatory conditions in Ghana using formalin-induced pain model in mice. For comparison of analgesic effect, morphine (1-10 mg kg(-1)) and diclofenac sodium (1-10 mg kg(-1)) were used as a reference opioid and NSAID, respectively. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts (30-300 mg kg(-1)) dose-dependently inhibited both the first and second phases of the formalin-induced nociception. Oral doses of the aqueous extract (1-5 g kg(-1)) in imprint control region mice were well tolerated in acute toxicity studies; however a 14-day oral administration of 1-2 g kg(-1) of the extracts in sprague-Dawley rats produced pathologic effects on the heart, kidney, liver and lungs. Therefore, although the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of H. indicum have analgesic activity, it could have a cumulative toxic effects hence prolonged and continuous use is not advised.

• 出版日期2012-2-15