Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 2019: 15 (3): 47-60 www.ijps.ir Original Article Evaluation of Analgesic Activity of Ficus Palmata Skaik Aminabee*, A. Lakshmana Rao, K. Sowmya, D. Nymisha, K. Kusuma Naga Lakshmi, K.V.N.S. Manikanta, P. Praveen Kumar Department of Pharmacology, V. V. Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gudlavalleru-521356, Andhra Pradesh, India Abstract Ficus palmata (FI) is an important and widely used medicinal plant. It is principally used as an item of diet in the treatment of constipation and diseases of the lungs and bladder. The sap is used in the treatment of warts. Ficus palmata plant is used in various disease e.g. gastrointestinal, hypoglycemic, antitumor, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, lipid lowering and antifungal activities. This study evaluates both the central and peripheral analgesic effect of the different extracts of Ficus palmata in the experimental animals. Methods: Acute toxicity test was done following the Organization of Economic Co- operation and Development guidelines. Ficus palmata extracts (250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg) body weight was evaluated for central analgesic activity by the hot plate method, tail immersion method and formalin test models using tramodol (20 mg/kg b.w.) as the standard drug. Results: In all the models, chloroform extract showed significant inhibition as well as the elongation of time at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. A linear dose response relationship was also observed which was comparable with that of the standard drug tramodol (p<0.01, p<0.05). Conclusion: The study showed significant central and peripheral analgesic activity of Ficus palmata which may be attributed to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, phospholipase A2, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Ficus plamata as a commercial source of analgesic drug should be subjected to further research. Keywords: Ficus palmata, Analgesic activity, Hot plate method, Tail immersion method, Formalin test. 1. Introduction Corresponding Author: Shaik Aminabee, Department of Pharmacology, V. V. Institute of Pharmaceutical Pain is a disabling accompaniment of many Sciences, Gudlavalleru-521356, Andhra Pradesh, India Tel: +9908037622 medical conditions and pain control is one of the E-Mail: [email protected] most important therapeutic priorities [1]. Pain Cite this article as: Aminabee S, Lakshmana Rao, Sowmya K, Nymisha D, Kusuma Naga Lakshmi K, has been officially defined as an unpleasant Manikanta K.V.N.S., Praveen Kumar P, Evaluation of Analgesic Activity of Ficus Palmata, 2019, 15 (3): 47-60. sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. It is Aminabee S, et al / IJPS 2019; 15 (3):47-60 always a warning signal and primarily protective isomer of psoralenoside namely, trans- in nature but often causes a lot of discomfort and psoralenoside in addition to, one triterpene: lead to many adverse effects [2]. Analgesics are germanicol acetate, two furanocoumarins: drugs used to treat or reduce pain and the psoralene, bergapten, one aromatic acid vanillic classical analgesic drugs notably opiates and acid and the flavone glycoside rutin [6]. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have their The fruit is demulcent, emollient, laxative origin in natural products but many synthetic and poultice. They are principally used as an compounds that act by the same mechanism item of diet in the treatment of constipation and have been developed and are associated with diseases of the lungs and bladder. The sap is serious adverse effects such as ulceration, used in the treatment of warts. Ficus palmata gastrointestinal bleeding, additive potential, plant is used in various diseases e.g. respiratory distress, drowsiness, nausea, etc gastrointestinal, hypoglycemic, antitumor, [3,4]. antiulcer, antidiabetic, lipid lowering and Based on these therefore, there is the need for antifungal activities 7]. Traditionally stem latex the search for bioactive compounds from natural is applied to extract spines deeply lodged in the products especially from medicinal plants for flesh. The whole fruit, along with the seeds, is use as alternative analgesics with little or no side edible. Fruit is raw and very tasty. It is sweet effects. and juicy, having some astringency, which is Ficus palmata is an Herb belonging to the due to the presence of white latex just beneath family Moraceae. It is a highly variable and the epicarp. The astringency can be removed by common wild fig occurring in North West keeping the fruits immersed in water for about hills on hot, dry slopes in clay-loam soils in 10 to 15 minutes before eating [8]. The overall Uttarakhand, Punjab and Kashmir in India, fruit quality is excellent. The unripe fruits and Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Arabian young growth are cooked and eaten as a Peninsula, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and South vegetable. They are boiled, the water is removed Egypt. It is common in wastelands, forests, by squeezing and they are then fried [9]. The fields and villages [5].The phytochemical pliable wood is of little value but has been used screening of the Ficus palmata plant extracts for making hoops, garlands, ornaments etc. showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, Excess use of this plant may cause allergic flavonoids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. reactions. Phytochemical investigation of the aerial Different studies about this plant include: parts of Ficus palmata utilizing liquid-liquid Antibacterial, antioxidant & antiproliferative fractionation and different chromatographic activities, antimicrobial, antiulcer, antidiabetic techniques resulted in the isolation of a new [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]. 48 Evaluation of Analgesic activity of Ficus palmata 2. Materials and Methods ambient temperature of 25 ± 2oC and relative 2.1. Identification and Collection of Plant humidity of 55-65%. A 12 hour light and dark Material schedule was carefully maintained in the air The whole plant of Ficus palmata was conditioned animal house. All the mice are fed collected from surrounding area of with common diet for 1 week after arrival and Machilipatnam and Gudivada. These plants were then divided into groups with free access to food identified and authenticated by the Department and water. All experimental animals were of Botany Hindu Collage, Machilipatnam. The handled according to Institutional Animal Ethic plants were sorted, cleaned and air dried at room Committee (IAEC) guidelines guiding the use of temperature for one week. Then it was ground to experimental animals. powder. Powdered sample was collected and stored in air and water proof containers 2.5. Acute Toxicity Studies protected from direct sunlight and heat until According to OECD (Organization for used for extraction. Economic Co-operation and Development) guidelines 423 we have conducted the acute 2.2. Preparation of Extract by Using Soxhlet toxicity studies [17]. Animals are divided in Apparatus groups (n=5). For about 4-5 hours prior to The powdered material of Ficus palmata was experiments, all the animals are fasted with free extracted for 18 hr with petroleum ether, access to only distilled water. The suitable chloroform, ethanol and distilled water in extract of Ficus palmata are administered to soxhlet apparatus (INCO company). The different groups of mice in doses of 5, 50, 300, extracts were concentrated to dryness till free 1000 mg/kg by gavage and observed for from the solvents [15]. mortality and considerable physical and behavioral changes for over 14 days. 2.3. Phytochemical Analysis Phytochemical analysis of extract was carried 2.6. Assessment of Analgesic Activity of out for the presence of saponins, tannins, Different Extract of Ficus Palmata flavanoids, alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, carbohydrates, proteins, and phenols by 2.6.1. Study Design different methods [16]. The mice were randomly assigned into 10 groups of five mice for different experimental 2.4. Experimental Animals animal models. Male Mice weighing 60-80 gm are kept in Group I : Received only normal saline polypropylene cages, 3 in each cage, at an (Control) 49 Aminabee S, et al / IJPS 2019; 15 (3):47-60 Group II : Tramadol (20 mg/kg) reaction time was recorded. For each treated Group III : Petroleum ether extract of Ficus group, the mean reaction time was determined palmata (PEFP, 250 mg/kg) with that obtained for each group before Group IV : Petroleum ether extract of Ficus treatment. palmata (PEFP, 500 mg/kg) By using the following formula, percentage Group V : Chloroform extracts of Ficus palmata increase in reaction time (I%) was derived: (CEFP, 250 mg/kg) I% = {(It – Io)/Io} x 100 Group VI : Chloroform extracts of Ficus palmata Where, (CEFP, 500 mg/kg) It= reaction time at time t Group VII : Ethanolic extract of Ficus palmata Io = reaction time at time zero (EEFP, 250 mg/kg) 2.6.3 Tail Immersion Method Group VIII : Ethanolic extract of Ficus palmata The method of Luiz et al., 1988 was used for (EEFP, 500 mg/kg) the evaluation of the analgesic activity. Mice Group IX : Aqueous extract of Ficus palmata were randomly allocated into 10 groups of five (AEFP, 250 mg/kg) mice [19]. In a suitable restrainer, they are Group X : Aqueous extract of Ficus palmata gripped in position with the tail extending out of (AEFP, 500 mg/kg) the chamber. 2-3 cm area of the tail of the animal was marked and immersed in water bath 2.6.2. Hot Plate Method thermostatically maintained at 550C. The The analgesic activity of the aqueous extract withdrawal time of the tail from hot water was of Ficus palmata was measured by using Eddys noted as reaction time, with a cut off time of hot plate (INCO company) in Hot plate method immersion set as 10 sec, to avoid injury to the [18].To the respective group of mice, above tissues of tail. The reaction time was recorded mentioned drug and extract was given orally. after 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min following The mice are placed on a hot plate maintained at administration of test and standard drug.