Antinociceptive and antiulcer activities of Pycnanthus angolensis

Abstract

a b s t r a c tPycnanthus 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.

An enhanced fat extraction from Pycnanthus angolensis (African nutmeg) seeds using cellulase from Aspergillus niger strain BC23

“…Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw) Warb. (family Myristicaceae) is a widely distributed species of tree in Central and West Africa, with its different parts traditionally serving in management and treatment of wide range of ailments such as mouth ulcer, anemia, malaria, schistosomiasis and fungal infections (Gustafson et al, 2013;Mapongmetsem, 2007;Sofidiya and Awolesi, 2015). The seeds of the plant resemble those of true nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), although the latter belongs to a different genus; hence P. angolensis is literally known as African nutmeg.…”

Evaluation of the Memory Enhancing Activity of Dichloromethane Fraction of the Methanolic Extract of Pycnanthus angolensis Stem Bark on Experimental Models of Memory Impairment

“…Myristicaceae is among the most primitive of the Angiosperms with simple and alternate stipules, and dark green leathery leaves with tiny male or female petal-less flowers on different trees [14]. The plant is widely used in ethnomedicine in treating hyperglycaemia, sterility in women, as an antimicrobia agent, analgesic, anthelmintic, antidote for poisoning, anti-bleeding agent, anti-inflammatory, a pain soothing agent and for memory improvement [15]. However, the mechanism of action of its memory enhancing activity has not been fully elucidated hence, this study was designed to investigate its mechanisms of action in animal models of memory impairments.…”