Phytochemical Investigation and Evaluation of Analgesic Effect of Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Loranthus micranthus Linn (Nigerian Mistletoe)

Pain has been affirmed as the most common symptomatic presentation in ailment. Increasing number of recent studies on welfare and health status have been aimed at retrieving analgesic agents from natural sources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of the ethanolic leaves extract of Loranthus micranthus Linn (Mistletoe) in wistar rats. The leaves of the plant were extracted using 95% ethanol and the extract obtained evaluated for its analgesic activity using both the hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing methods. The effect of the extract (at all tested doses) on the latency of nociceptive response in rats using the hot plate method showed no significant difference when compared with the negative control group. However, there was a significant dose dependent decrease in the number of abdominal writhes in the rats when compared with the negative control (P<0.05). At the tested doses of 600 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg, percentage inhibition of writhing was found to be 66%, 59%, and 12% respectively. it is therefore conceivable that the ethanolic leaves extract of Loranthus micranthus Linn possesses peripheral analgesic property. However, further studies are necessary in order to isolate and characterize the active principles of the plant as well as further analgesic testing.

Author(s): Akefe I, Yusuf I, Adamu A, Abraham S, Dung E, Yusuf H and Victoria A

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