Toxicity study and analgesic activity of Gmelina arborea extract and its fractions

Abstract

Gmelina arborea is an important medicinal plant in the traditional system of medicine in India. The present study was designed to evaluate toxicity and analgesic activity of the alcoholic extract (AlcE) of G. arborea stem bark and its various fractions. The AlcE was prepared by the Soxhlet extraction technique. AlcE was fractionated with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. The acute toxicity of AlcE and its fractions was studied in female Swiss albino mice using the OECD guidelines. In the acute toxicity test, mice were treated with AlcE and its fractions (2000 mg/kg), orally. Animals were observed periodically during the fi rst 24 h after administration and daily thereafter for 14 days. The analgesic activity was studied in Swiss albino mice by using acetic acid-induced writhing method. The AlcE (250 and 500 mg/kg) and its fractions (200 mg/kg) were administered to animals before 45 minutes of administration of acetic acid. The number of muscular contractions was counted over a period of 10 minutes after acetic acid injection. AlcE and its fractions did not produce mortality, changes in behavior or any other physiological activities in mice, at selected dose. The AlcE at 250 and 500 mg/kg showed a signifi cant decrease in writhes -13.4 ± 0.16 and 12.2 ± 0.22, respectively when compared with control (19.2 ± 0.58). The n-butanol fraction showed maximum inhibition of writhes (57.37%) as compared to other fractions. These fi ndings suggested that AlcE and its fractions are safe after oral administration and have signifi cant analgesic activity.

Evaluation of 90-day subchronic oral toxicity of aqueous extract of <i>Gmelina arborea</i> Roxb (Verbenaceae) leaves in Wistar rats

“…An earlier study [16], showed that the alcoholic extract of G. arborea did not result in mortality, changes in behavior or any other physiological activities in mice [16]. Our findings are also similar to other earlier reports [10][11][12]15,16,20]. The decrease in blood glucose is similar to that of previous reports [6,21].…”

“…In traditional medicine, the leaves of G. arborea are often used to manage chronic ailments that include high blood pressure and diabetes. While in vivo toxicological data are available on the stem bark [10,11,15,16], there are no similar data on the 90-days subchronic toxicity of the leaves.…”