Evaluation of antinociceptive and antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extract of Sonneratia caseolaris leaves

The ethanolic extract of leaves of Sonneratia caseolaris exhibited statistically significant (p>0.01 & p>0.001) writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced writhing model in white albino mice (Swiss-webstar strain). The crude extract produced 24.37% inhibition of writhing at the dose of 250 mg/kg body weight & 43.15 % inhibition of writhing at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight while the standard drug diclofenac inhibition was found to 65.48 % at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. The antioxidant property of ethanolic extract of S. caseolaris was assessed by DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity. In DPPH scavenging assay the IC50 value was found to be (68 μg/ml) which was comparable to the standard ascorbic acid (13 μg/ml). Phytochemical nature (group determination of plant constituent) and selected phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of S. caseolaris indicated the presence of flavonoid, reducing sugars, tannins & saponins types of compounds. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation. The present study tends to suggest the antinociceptive and antioxidant activities of the crude ethanolic extract of the leaves of S. caseolaris and justify its use in folkloric remedies