ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF ETHANOLIC, HEXANE AND CHLOROFORM EXTRACTS OF SESAME SEED BY THERMAL HEAT METHOD IN ALBINO MICE

Background: Pain is a common symptom having huge public health importance. Conventional analgesics relieve pain effectively but cause various unwanted side effects. Hence the search for a novel analgesic with favourable risk-benefit profile is essential. Objectives: The current study was undertaken to investigate the analgesic activity of the ethanolic, hexane and chloroform extracts of sesame seeds by thermal heat method in Albino mice. Methods: The mice were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 was administered normal saline. Group 2 was given aspirin (50 mg/kg). Groups 3 to 5 were administered the various Sesame seed extracts (ethanolic, hexane and chloroform) at the doses of 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. All drugs were administered orally. Analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate method. Results: The ethanolic extract of Sesame seed at the dose of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg exhibited significant analgesic activity at 120 and 180 minutes, whereas at a dose of 200 mg/kg it exhibited activity even at 60 minutes. The maximum analgesic effect was shown at 120 minutes. The activity of extract at 200 mg/kg was comparable to aspirin. Both the hexane and chloroform extract of Sesame seed did not exhibit significant analgesic effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg. But at a higher dose (200 mg/kg), both hexane and chloroform extract showed significant analgesic activity, which was maximum at 180 minutes. Conclusion: The ethanolic, hexane, and chloroform extracts of Sesame seeds have analgesic potential. The analgesic activity of the ethanolic extract is comparable to aspirin.