COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC EFFECTS OF A RECIPE WITH TWO PLANTS: SENNA ALATA L. (FABACEAE) AND JATROPHA CURCAS L. (EUPHORBIACEAE)

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluete the acute toxicity and to compare the analgesic and antipyretic effects of a recipe consisting of a mixture of leaf powders from of S. alata, and J.curcas with these two plants. Acute toxicity was evalueted by oral administration of a single dose (5000 mg/kg) orally in mice according the OECD, (2001) guideline no. 423. The results obtained show that the aqueous extracts of the leaves of S. alata, J.curcas and the recipe caused a brief reduction of mobility. However, no mortality and change in general behavior were observed. Pain was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 0.6% acetic acid in mice and by 2.5% subplantar formaldehyde in rats. The results obtained show that paracetamol (standard drug, 100 mg/kg), tramadol (standard drug, 10 mg/kg), aqueous extracts of S. alata (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg), J. curcas ( 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and the recipe (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) signicantly reduced (P<0.001) the number of abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid as well as the frequency of licking or biting of the paws induced by formaldehyde during the two phases compared to the control group. These results suggest a peripheral and central analgesic effect of the aqueous extracts with a potentiation of the effect by the recipe. Fever was induced by subcutaneous administration of a solution of brewer's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The results obtained show that the aqueous extracts of S. alata (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg), J. curcas (1000 mg/kg) and the recipe (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) signicantly lower (p<0.05) the hyperthermia induced by brewers' yeast with more marked falls obtained with the receipt between 4 and 5 hours.