Comparative analgesic activity of the root bark, stem bark, leaves, fruits and seeds of Carissa edulis VAHL (Apocynaceae)

Abstract

The analgesic activity of the water extracts (50,100 and150 mg/Kg body weight) of the root bark, stem bark, leaves, fruits and seeds of Carissa edulis were evaluated in mice using the mechanical method
(tail-chip method) and chemical method (acetic acid induced writhing). The plant was found to have analgesic activity, with the fruits having the highest activity, followed by the leaves, seeds, root bark
and stem bark respectively using metamizol as standard with mechanical method. There was slight variation with chemical method, the seeds were found to be most effective followed by fruits, leaves, root bark and stem bark respectively using acetylsalicylic acid as standard. The analgesic activity compared well with metamizol and aspirin which were used as standard, the chromatographic analysis indicate the presences of salicylates. These result justified the use of the plant in the treatment of toothache, lumbago, oedema and chest complaints by the traditional medical practitioners.