Study of Analgesic Activity of Methanolic Extracts of Cuminum Cyminum (L.) and Centratherum Anthelminticum (L.) in Mice

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate and compare the analgesic activity of methanolic ex- tracts of seeds of Cuminum Cyminum (L) and Centratherum anthelminticum (L)in mice.

Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology University of Karachi; 30 healthy  mice were selected from animal house of  Pharmacology  department  of  University  of  Karachi  for  the  study. All animals were divided into three groups, each group of 10 mice. Mice of Group 1 were given      DMSO (Dimethyl sulphoxide) an organic solvent, mice of group 2  were  given  Methanolic  extract  of  Cuminum Cyminum (L) and mice of group 3  were  given  Methanolic  extract  of  Centratherum  anthelminticum (L). The analgesic activity was  investigated  by  tail  flick  test,  heat  is  used  to  stimulate  pain and observe analgesic activity, after a week of oral dosing  of  Methanolic  extracts  of  seeds  of  Cuminum Cyminum (L) and Centratherum anthelminticum (L) in mice. Methanolic extracts of Cuminum Cyminum (L) and Centratherum anthelminticum (L) were  insoluble  in  water  so  Dimethyl  sulphoxide  (DMSO) i.e. an organic solvent was used in this study (it is used for solutes that are insoluble in water).        The methanolic extracts of Cuminum  cyminum(L),  Centratherum  anthelminticum  (L)  and  DMSO  (dim-  ethyl sulphoxide) were administered orally to three groups of mice for a week and on 7th day of dosing analgesic activity was tested through tail flick test, response is checked after 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180        and 240 minutes of 7th day of dosing.

Results: The group of mice, which were given Methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum(L)showed highly significant analgesic activity after 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 and 240 minutes of dosing. The group of mice       which was given Methanolic extract of Centratherum anthelminticum (L) showed significant analgesic activ-    ity after 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 andhighly significant analgesic activity after 240 min. of dosing on 7th day.

Conclusion: The results indicate that both extracts of Cuminum Cyminum (L) and Centratherum anthelminticum (L)showed analgesic activity.  On  comparison  Cuminum  Cyminum  (L)  have  more  supe-  rior analgesic potential than Centratherum anthelminticum (L).