ArticlesAbstractPharmacognosy Research,2016,8,3,181-185.DOI:10.4103/0974-8490.182912Published:May 2016Type:Original ArticleAuthors:Celestina Ifeoma Orabueze, Sunday Adeleke Adesegun, and Herbert Alexander Coker Author(s) affiliations:Celestina Ifeoma Orabueze1, Sunday Adeleke Adesegun1, Herbert Alexander Coker2 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, NIGERIA. 2Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Lagos, NIGERIA. Abstract:Background: Petersianthus macrocarpus (Lecythidaceae) is widely used in the folk medicine in Nigeria to relieve pain and fever associated with malaria. This study evaluated the analgesic and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract and fractions of the stem bark of the plant. Materials and Methods: The analgesic activity was determined in mice using hotplate and acetic acid‑induced writhing models. Morphine sulphate (5 mg/kg, i.p.) and aspirin (100 mg/ml, p.o.) were used as reference analgesic agents. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using 1,1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical; reducing power, iron chelating properties and determination of total phenolic content. Results: The extract at 200 and 500 mg/kg, produced an insignificant (P > 0.05) increase in pain threshold in hotplate but a significant (P < 0.05) increase at 1000 mg/kg. The extract significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the writhing induced by acetic acid in mice in a dose dependent manner. Fractionation increased the analgesic activities significantly (P < 0.05) in ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions (200 mg/kg). The extract demonstrated strong DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC50 0.05 mg/ml, good reducing power and weak iron chelating activities. The total phenol content was 142.32 mg/gin term of gallic acid. The antioxidant effects were more pronounced in ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggested that the extract has strong analgesic and antioxidant activities which reside mainly in the polar fractions thus confirming the traditional use of the plant to alleviate pains. Keywords:Anti‑nociceptive, Lecythidaceae, Pain, radical scavenging, writhingView:PDF (575.92 KB) PDF Thumbnails Document Outline Search Document Find Toggle Sidebar Previous Next Page: Fullscreen Print Download Current View Zoom Out Zoom In Automatic Zoom Actual Size Fit Page Full Width 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 200% More Information Less Information Close Click here to download the PDF file. Images Analgesic and Antioxidant Activities of Stem Bark Extract and Fractions of Petersianthus macrocarpus KeywordsAnti‑nociceptiveLecythidaceaepainradical scavengingwrithing ‹ Effects of Five Bangladeshi Plant Extracts on In vitro Thrombolysis and Cytotoxicity up UP1306, a Botanical Composition with Analgesic and Anti‑inflammatory Effect ›