Antinociceptive evaluation of Motandra guineensis (Thonn) A. DC. (Apocynaceae) aerial part in mice.

Antinociceptive evaluation of Motandra guineensis (Thonn) A. DC. (Apocynaceae) aerial part in mice.

Ginikachukwu Okoh 1*, Patrick Obi 1 and Anselm Kenechukwu Nwokedi 2

 

  1. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani.
  2. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medicine, State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo-Eno, Enugu State.

 

 

 

Key words:

 Motandra guineensis, antinociceptive, phytochemistry screening, acute toxicity.

 

 

 

 

 

*Corresponding author:

ginikachukwu.uzor@esut.edu.ng;
DOI:https://doi.org/10.61594/tnpr.v6i4.2025.149

Page No: 356-363
Volume: 6, Issue 4, 2025
Trends in Natural Products Research
Copy Right: NAPREG

Abstract

Motandra guineensis (Thonn) A. DC. (Apocynaceae) aerial parts are used in ethnomedicine to treat stomachaches, toothaches, and Motandra guineensis (Thonn) A. DC. (Apocynaceae) aerial parts are used in ethnomedicine to treat stomachaches, toothaches, eye infections, and other pain-related illnesses in eastern Nigeria. However, the plant has not been scientifically evaluated for its traditional uses. Therefore, this study examined the antinociceptive activity of the crude ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Motandra guineensis (MG). The antinociceptive effect of the MA crude extract was assessed in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate test, and formalin assay at oral doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg (n=6). An oral acute toxicity test was conducted on the mice. Phytochemical screening was performed using standard methods.
In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the extracts showed significant and dose-dependent antinociceptive effects. In the formalin test, all doses of the extract showed a significant (P < 0.05) effect during both phases. The results of the hot plate test were significant (P < 0.05) at 60, 90, 120, and 150 min across all doses. The extract did not produce any toxicity at doses of up to 5000 mg/kg b.w. Alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenoids, and saponins were observed in the extract. These results support the traditional use of M. guineensis in treating various diseases associated with pain.