Evaluation of Anthelmintic, Analgesic and Neuropharmacological Activity of the Plant Abutilon Indicum

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to determine the anthelmintic, analgesic and neuropharmacological activity of the methanolic extract from the barks of Abutilon indicum. Anthelmintic activity was investigated using earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) and fresh leaf juice of the plant. In anthelmintic activity test, the time of paralysis for leaves juice was range from 25min 37 sec to 65min 12 sec whereas the time ranges for standard drug albendazole was 31 min 57 sec to 75min 27 sec. On the other hand the time of death start from 31 min 43 sec and end to 72 min 09 sec for leaves juice and for albendazole the time of death start from 39 min 22 sec and end 84 min 19 sec respectively at different dose (5mg/ml, 10mg/ml, 20mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 100mg/ml) which indicate highly significant anthelmintic activity. Analgesic activity was investigated using two thermal (hot plate and tail immersion) and one chemical (acetic acid-induced writhing test) methods at the dose of 200 and 400 mg /kg in Swiss albino mice. In analgesic activity test, the latency time of thermal threshold was prolonged in hot plate and tail immersion tests, whereas it was inhibited by acetic acid-induced writhing test. Thus the extract of the Abutilon indicum barks showed moderate analgesic activity. Neuropharmacological activity of the plant was observed by open field, hole cross, and dark/light box tests at the doses of 200mg/kg and 400 mg /kg in Swiss albino mice. The extract significantly decrease the locomotor activity as shown by the open field, hole cross test which indicate highly significant antidepressant activity. The results also showed similar activity in dark/light box test. Thus the obtained results in the study provide a support for the use of this plant for medicinal purposes and encourage further investigations for more fruitful results.