ANTI-NOCICEPTIVE POTENTIALS OF ARTOCARPUS ALTILIS (BREADFRUIT) ON WISTAR RATS IN THERMAL MODEL OF PAIN STUDY
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of methanolic extract of Artocarpus altilis on thermal model of
pain in albino wistar rats. The study was carried out on twenty-five (25) albino wistar rats of
fifteen males and ten females, weighing 200-250g. The Eddy’s hot plate technique as a thermal
model for nociception was adopted. The LD50 value was determined as 2800mg/kg using
Karber’s method. Standard doses were taken below the LD50 value as 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and
300mg/kg of the methanol extract of the plant. The albino wistar rats were divided into five
groups with each group containing five animals (3 males and 2 females) each. Group A served as
control group and were administered 5ml of distilled water orally. Groups B, C and D received
100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg doses of MEAA orally. However, group E 200mg/kg of
aspirin orally, as a reference drug. The different temperatures (30±0.50C, 45±0.50C and
60±0.50C) set on an electric hot plate were compared among the test and control groups. The
result showed that MEAA seeds administered orally showed level of significance (p˂ 0.05)
analgesic effect on nociceptive stimuli as initiated by a thermal panel at the set temperatures.
Though the analgesic effect of aspirin was seen to be more potent than that noticed in the MEAA
groups, but the analgesic effects in the MEAA treated groups was in a much similar fashion to
that of aspirin. Therefore, the present study submits that MEAA possess significant analgesic
effect on the biological system.