Antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of methanol extract of Phoenix sylvestris fruit pulp.

Md Shafiullah Shajib,Saleha Akter,Mohammad Zafar Imam,Tajnin Ahmed

doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00212

Md Shafiullah Shajib, Saleha Akter + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00212

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Abstract

Fruits of Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. (Arecaceae) are used to treat back pain, toothache, headache, arthritis, nervous debility and as sedative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of methanol extract of P. sylvestris fruit pulp (MEPS). The antinociceptive activity of MEPS was evaluated by heat-induced (hot plate, tail immersion test) and chemical-induced pain models (acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced nociception, glutamate-induced nociception and paw edema test). The effect of MEPS on central nervous system (CNS) was studied using hole cross test, open field test, sodium thiopental-induced sleeping time and elevated plus maze test. MEPS showed strong, significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in all heat-induced and chemical-induced pain models at all experimental doses. Involvement of opioid receptor mediated analgesia was evident from the reversal of analgesic effect by naloxone. MEPS also showed reduced locomotor activity in both hole cross and open field tests. The increase in sleeping time in sodium thiopental-induced sleeping test and anxiolytic activity in elevated plus maze test were also significant. So, it is evident that MEPS possesses strong central and peripheral antinociceptive activity as well as CNS depressant, sedative and anxiolytic activity. The results justify the ethnomedicinal use of P. sylvestris fruit in different painful conditions and CNS disorders.

Highlights

Investigation of pharmacological basis of the therapeutic uses of plants by traditional practitioners is an integral part of ethnopharmacology (Leonti and Casu, 2013)
Among 35, the major constituents were identified by comparing the relative percentage amount and they are: 2,3-Dihydro3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (14.24%), Catechol (13.49%), n-Hexadecanoic acid (9.25%), Methyl oleate (6.81%), Oleic acid (6.77%), 4-methylcatechol (5.92%), methyl palmitate (4.84%), 1-Ethynyl-7-(2’-methyl-1’-propenyl) tricycloheptanes (4.37%), Neophytadiene (4.03%), p-methoxyphenethyl alcohol (3.93%), Squalene (3.44%), Linoleate (3.09%), Hexadecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl) ethyl ester (2.87%), Lauric
The results of the present study indicate peripheral and central antinociceptive, central nervous system (CNS) depressant, sedative and anxiolytic effect of Methanol extract of Phoenix sylvestris fruit pulp (MEPS) at different doses in mice models

Summary

Introduction

Investigation of pharmacological basis of the therapeutic uses of plants by traditional practitioners is an integral part of ethnopharmacology (Leonti and Casu, 2013). Ethnopharmacological knowledge continues to contribute to the discovery of new antinociceptive agents from plants (Calixto et al, 2000). Phytotherapy based on this knowledge is being used as a guide for the development of CNS depressant, sedative, anxiolytic drugs (Gurib-Fakim, 2006). Proanthocyanidin, a polyphenolic substance belonging to the flavonoid group, has been isolated from the fruits of P. sylvestris (Rao et al, 1980). The antioxidant activity of fruits has been reported (Mukherjee et al, 2014). The erythropoietic activity of the fruits has been reported (Lohar et al, 2009)

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