Phytochemical Composition and Analgesic Property of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Maesobotrya barteri

Aim: This study was carried out to identify the phytochemical composition of Maesobotrya barteri, and effect on infra-red induced pain in mice.

Methodology: Twenty albino mice were selected and randomly placed in 5 groups of 4 animals each. Pain was induced by infra-red heat. Group 1 was treated with distilled water, Group 2 received 100 mg/kg bwt of aspirin. Extract doses of 500 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg bw were given to groups 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The time taken for the animals to flick their tail off the I.R window was noted in seconds and taken as the reaction time.

Results: The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, cardenolides and saponins. Flavonoids were the most abundant. The plant extract increased the reaction time of the mice to radiant heat induced pain. All doses of the plant extract except the 800 mg/kg bwt dose showed the highest elevation of pain threshold at the 60 mins interval. The concentration of 1000 mg/kg body weight showed the highest elevation. Percentage inhibition was calculated as 27.5%, 20.6% and 44.4% for the three doses of the extract respectively. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the reaction time for the standard drug treated group and the extract treated group. The increase in reaction time for the treated groups relative to the control was not significant at p≤0.05.

Conclusion: This study has revealed that Maesobotrya barteri has a mild analgesic property. Its use as a pain reliever in some local communities of Nigerian is hence not substantiated.