US EPA

8307937 

Journal Article 

Peripheral and central antinociceptive activities of the crude methanolic extract and fractions of Momordica balsamina Linn 

Sunday, OO; Uguru, OM 

2010 

3 

4 

15-19 

English 

The peripheral and central antiniciceptive properties of M. balsamina were evaluated in animal pain models. Methanolic extract of the whole plant of M.balsamina and its fraction(s) significantly (P>0.05) inhibited nociception in Albino mice and Wister rat. M. balsamina was less effective than Aspirin, a known antinociceptive agent. Aqueous fraction of M. balsamina was found to possess greater percentage of the active constituents in M. balsamina, implying that polar constituents of M. balsamina may be responsible for the observed antinociceptive effects. N-hexane fraction had insignificant nociceptive inhibitory effect while, Chloroform, ethylacetate, and N-butanol fractions inhibited nociceptive activity in writhing and hot plate models. Unlike the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory antinociceptives, M. balsamina has no ulcerative property; rather it has slight insignificant ulcer protective effects. These findings suggest that the extract of M. balsamina contain antinociceptive agents and supports its use in folk medicine for the management of Pain. 

Antinociceptive; Hot plate and formalin pain models; Momordica balsamina; Tail flick; Writhing reflex