Evaluation of Analgesic, Antidiarrheal and Hypoglycemic Activities of <i>Wendlandia paniculata</i> (Roxb.) DC Leaves Extract using Mice Model

Abstract

The leaves of Wendlandia paniculata (Roxb.) DC is a rare folk medicine among tribal people even though there is no scientific literature available regarding its pharmacological potentials. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of crude methanol extract of W. paniculata (Roxb.) DC. Leaves in mice model. The in vivo glucose-lowering capacity of methanolic crude extract was analyzed utilizing the well-known tail tipping method. The central and peripheral analgesic activity was evaluated using the ‘tail flick' and writhing assay respectively. The anti-diarrheal activity was evaluated using the method of castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice. As a result, oral administration (400 mg/ kg) of the extract resulted significant (P<0.001) delay in response to pain and inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing response. The results were comparable to the respective standards morphine (2 mg/kg) and diclofenac (50 mg/kg). Likewise, maximum reduction (p<0.05) of blood glucose (32.3%) was observed 180 min after oral intake(400 mg/kg) of the extract compared to the 47% of the standard glibenclamide. Moreover, a reduction of diarrheal feces was observed 45.83% (p<0.001) compared to standard loperamide 70.83%. The in vivo bioassays confirmed that the crude methanol extract of leaves of W. paniculata possesses significant analgesic (central, peripheral) and antidiarrheal activity with mild glucose-lowering activity. Isolation of bioactive compounds is needed to justify the molecule responsible for the activity.