Evaluation of analgesic activity of the methanol extract from the galls of Quercus infectoria alone and as an adjuvant in wistar rats

Abstract

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids are the most preferred drugs for pain relief. Considering the gastrointestinal toxicity, dependence and other side effects, search for better analgesic drug continues. Quercus infectoria (QI) is from the family Fagaceae. The galls of QI are comprised of tannin (36 to 60%), gallic acid, ellagic acid, and syringic acid. They possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic properties. In India, galls of QI have been used for the treatment of toothache, diarrhoea, sore throat and inflammatory diseases as a home remedy. This study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of galls of QI on wistar rats using tail-flick and Eddy’s hot-plate methods. The objective of the study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of galls of QI alone and as an adjuvant with tramadol on Wistar rats.Methods: Total of 24 wistar rats were included in the study and divided into 4 groups. They received drugs intra-peritoneally as follows. In group 1, normal saline, in group 2, tramadol, in group 3, methanolic extract of galls of QI and in group 4, tramadol with methanolic extract of galls of QI was available.Results: Methanolic extract of galls of QI produced significant maximal possible analgesia (<0.001) at 30 and 60 minutes in tail-flick method whereas it failed to produce analgesia in hot-plate method during all time intervals.Conclusions: Methanolic extract of galls of QI showed analgesic activity in tail-flick method indicating that its possible mechanism of action is spinally mediated.