Analgesic and neuropharmacological activities of Berberis lycium Royle collected from district Sherani Balochistan, Pakistan.

Berberis lycium (family Berberidaceae) grows in district Sherani, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is used for the treatment of various disorders by the people of Balochistan. The present work was carried out to explore analgesic and neuropharamcological activities of crude methanolic extracts of B. lyceum. The analgesic activity was carried out by acetic acid induced writhing test and formalin test. Open field test, cage crossing test, rearing test, traction test and forced swimming test were carried out in neuropharmacological activities. The results reveal that crude methanolic extracts of B. lyceum showed significant (P<0.05) analgesic activity in acetic acid induced pain as well as with formalin test. In neuropharmacological activities, crude methanolic extracts of B. lyceum showed significant (P<0.05) central nervous system depressant activity and in forced swimming test it showed anxiolytic effects.

Evaluation of acute toxicity, sedative and analgesic effects of Taverniera glabra methanolic extract on mice.

Present study was conducted on crude methanolic extract of stem and root of Taverniera glabra. In Pakistan T. glabra is found in the region of Balochistan only. T. glabra has numerous therapeutic uses in traditional medicine and it is also used for the pain relief. Current study was carried out to evaluate acute toxicity, analgesic and CNS depressant activity of the plant. Acute toxicity was carried out by oral administration of the T. glabra extract from 250 to 2000mg/kg oral dose. Analgesic activity was carried out by acetic acid induced writhing test and formalin test. Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant activity was carried out by exploratory activities (open field activity, cage crossing activity, rearing test) and forced swimming test. Oral administration of the methanolic extract of T. glabra was nontoxic at the dose of 1500mg/kg in the acute toxicity test. Exploratory behavior of mice treated with the methanolic extract of T. glabra showed sedative effects (P<0.05) in open field, cage crossing, traction and rearing test, particularly at the dose of 500mg as compared with standard drug Diazepam. In forced swimming test, mobility time was significantly (P<0.05) increased at 500mg/kg oral dose, and results were significant as compared with control. Methanolic extract of T. glabra produced significant (P<0.05) analgesic effects at the dose of 500mg/kg in the acetic acid induced writhing test and the formalin test. In conclusion, results show that the crude methanolic extract of T. glabra possess sedative as well as potent analgesic effects. Present pharmacological studies are the first ever studies conducted on the methanolic extract of T. glabra.