Antinociceptive and anti-hyperglycemic activity of methanol leaf extract of Cyperus scariosus

The objective of the present study was to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-hyperglycemic activity of methanolic leaf extract of Cyperus scariosus. Antinociceptive activity was determined using a model of acetic acid-induced gastric pain in mice and anti-hyperglycemic activity through glucose tolerance test using glucose loaded mice. In writhing assays induced by acetic acid, the methanolic leaf extract showed dose dependent significant pain inhibition compared to control. The maximum writhing inhibition (46.62%) was found at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight which was less than that of the positive control, aspirin (56.74%), when used at the same dose. Anti-hyperglycemic activity of the extract was also found to be significant in mice loaded with glucose at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. Maximum tolerance (42.86%) was showed at 400 mg extract/kg body weight, which compared favorably with that of glibenclamide at 10 mg/kg body weight (57.62%). In summary, the methanol extract of C. scariosus leaves has had beneficial effects as a pain reliever and also in reducing the elevated blood glucose level of hyperglycemic mice.