ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF FICUS GLOMERATA LEAVES: IN VIVO EVALUATION

There are numerous plants which are used in Ayurveda and other traditional system of medicine but their claim is not yet evaluated scientifically in laboratory animals. Present study was intended to evaluate an analgesic activity of a Ficus glomerata leaf extract in mice to confirm ethnomedical claim made by traditional health practionars. Plant was obtained from the natives of Pune district and authenticated at Botanical Survey of India, Pune. Dried leaves of a plant were extracted in ethanol using Soxhlet extractor. Ethanolic extract was evaporated using rota evaporator and stored at cool and dry place. Extract was orally administered in mice (125mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) and evaluated using hot plate and tail immersion methods. Pentazocine (10 mg/kg) was taken as a standard drug. Significant analgesic activity comparable with standard dose of pentazocine was observed in both the cases. This confirms ethnomedical claim of some workers regarding an analgesic activity of the plant.