Anti hyperalgesic potentials of Laggera aurita in Swiss Albino mice

The ethnomedical uses of Laggera aurita (LA), including its anti-nociceptive properties have been documented in literature. This study evaluated the anti-hyperalgesic effects of the methanolic extract of LA (MELA) using chemically and mechanically induced hyperalgesia models. Acute toxicity and preliminary phytochemical screening were also conducted. The intraperitoneal median lethal dose was found to be 3807.88 mg/kg, while saponins, tannins and carbohydrates were found to be present in the plant material. MELA exhibited significant analgesic activity in the acetic acid induced writhing and Randall-Siletto tests. The 400 mg/kg dose of MELA exhibited a significant (p<0.001) analgesic activity which offered 19.75% inhibition above piroxicam in the acetic acid test. At 200 and 400 mg/kg MELA demonstrated comparative analgesia with pentazocine in the Randall-Siletto test. The study shows that MELA possesses anti-nociceptive principles and the presence of saponins, tannins and carbohydrates which have been previously associated with anti-hyperalgesia may be responsible for the pharmacological actions, thus authenticating the ethnomedical rationale for its anti-nociceptive uses.