ANALGESIC, CNS DEPRESSANT AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF LEAVES EXTRACT OF DILLENIA INDICA LINN.

The aim of present study was to examine the analgesic, neuropharmacological and cytotoxic effects of the methanolic extract of the barks of Dillenia indica Linn. The analgesic activity was evaluated for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions using tail-flick method and acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice respectively. The extract, at the dose of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight, produced a significant increase in pain threshold in tail-flick method in a dose dependent manner. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract at 400 mg/kg dose showed a maximum of 46.0 % inhibition (p <0.001) of writhing reaction compared to the reference drug Diclofenac-Na (78.50%). The extract was also investigated for its neuropharmacological action using hole-cross and open field test. The extract displayed dose dependent suppression of motor activity and exploratory behavior in mice in the tested models. The results of the study indicate that the plant possesses strong analgesic potential which might be linked to inhibition of central mechanism of pain. However, studies are required on higher animal model and subsequently on human subjects to prove its clinical efficacy as an analgesic, CNS depressant and cytotoxic agent.