Abstract

Murraya paniculata is a common plant widely available in Bangladesh. Different parts of the plant have been used extensively in various traditional formulations in South Asian countries. In order to rationalize the traditional use of the bark of M. paniculata, extract of equal proportions of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol was subject to mice, to evaluate its analgesic activities. The extract of the bark of M. paniculata obtained by cold extraction at an oral dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight significantly and dose dependently reduced the frequency of acetic acid induced writhing and prolonged the tail flicking latency in mice. At the given doses, the extract showed 37 (p<0.001) and 45% (p<0.001) inhibition of writhing respectively. In radiant heat tail-flicking method the crude extract produced 56 (p<0.001) and 73% (p<0.001) elongation of flicking time after 30 min and 30 (p<0.01) and 41% (p<0.001) elongation of flicking time 60 min after oral doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight respectively.  On the other hand, the bark extract exhibited 19% (p<0.05) elongation of flicking time after 120 min.

Key words: Murraya paniculata; whole extract; acetic acid induced writhing; tail flicking test; analgesic activity.