In vivo analgesic effect of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica L. fruits.

• Main Authors: Khalid, Syamimi, Shaik Mossadeq, Wan Mastura, Daud , Ahmad Israf, Hashim, Puziah, Rejab, S., Shaberi, A.M., Mohamad, Azam Shah, Zakaria, Zainul Amiruddin, Sulaiman, Mohd Roslan
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Karger: Open Access Journals 2010
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15172/1/In%20vivo%20analgesic%20effect%20of%20aqueous%20extract%20of%20Tamarindus%20indica%20L.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15172/

To study the effects of Tamarindus indica L. aqueous fruit extract on the antinociceptive activities in rodent models. Methods: The analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate and formalin tests. Results: The extract (60–600 mg/kg) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the writhing test in a dose-dependent manner with the percentage of analgesia recorded between 51.8 and 74.1%. In addition, the extract also significantly (p < 0.05) increased the latency time in the hot plate test in a dose-dependent manner. Further study showed that the extract elicited inhibitory activity in both the early and late phases of the formalin test. Moreover, pretreatment with 5 mg/kg naloxone, a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist, significantly (p < 0.05) modified the antinociceptive effect of the extract in all tests. Conclusion: The aqueous extract of T. indica possesses potential antinociceptive activity at both the peripheral and central levels, which are mediated via activation of the opioidergic mechanism.