Antinociceptive activity of methanol extract of Begonia thomsonii A. DC. leaves

Mohammed Farhad1,2, Mohammed Sohel Meah2, Ovil Das2 , Md. Salauddin2 , Md. Abu Hanif2, Md. Rahimul Hasan3, Md. Shamsuzzaman3, Asifur Rahman4, Mofiza Akter4, Md. Mominur Rahman1,2*, Mohammad Shah Hafez Kabir1,2

The nature has provided abundant plant wealth for all the living creatures, which possess medicinal virtues. Therefore, there is a necessity to explore their uses and to ascertain their therapeutic properties. The present study was to investigate anti-nociceptive action of the methanol extract of Begonia thomsonii A.DC. leaves. The mice were submitted to acetic acid-induced writhing test and Formalin induced licking test to assess antinociceptive activities, respectively. Two doses 400 and 200 mg/kg were administered for testing. The methanol extract of B. thomsonii at both doses, exhibited a significant (P < 0.001) dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in acetic acid writhing test and Formalin test. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, oral administration of methanol extract of B. thomsonii (200 and 400 mg/kg) also decreased the writhing significantly while compared to control. The dose 400 mg/kg showed maximum percentage of pain inhibition (33.33%). Aspirin (10 mg/kg) was used as reference antinociceptive drugs. Methanol extract of B. thomsonii (200 and 400 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the licking activity in both phase of the formalin-induced pain in mice in a dose dependant manner. The reference analgesic drug Aspirin (10 mg/kg) also significantly inhibited the licking activity against both phases of formalin induced pain. The leaf extract has potential antinociceptive activity. The present study supports the use of B. thomsonii in different pain states.