Eclipta prostrata belongs to the family of plants known as Astraceae. It is a species of plant in the sunflower family, popularly known as "false daisy" in English. The whole plant contains the alkaloids nicotine and ecliptine; and used locally for treating bruises, cuts, wounds, liver disorders and pain, among others. This study investigated the analgesic activities of hydroethanolic leaf extract of Eclipta prostrata in rodents, using standard laboratory protocols. Doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg were separately administered via oral route to the animals used in the various models - acetic acid-induced mouse writhing test, formalin - induced pain, hot plate-induced pain, and tail clip test. The effect of the extract was comparable to that produced by peripheral analgesics like aspirin and centrally acting analgesics like morphine used as positive control in the various models employed. The mechanism of action was elucidated through pre-treatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg), yohimbine (1mg/kg), ondasetron (0.2 mg/kg), atropine (2 mg/kg), glibenclamide (2 mg/kg). The extract activity was significant in all the models employed; however, it was more intense via the peripheral than the central pathway. Glibenclamide and atropine antagonized the activity of the decoction, which suggests that the herbal drug’s antinociceptive effect is mediated via potassium ion channel opening and cholinergic receptor. Phytochemical analysis of the leaf extract indicated the presence of flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, phlobatanins, steroids, cardiac glycoside, and which probably contributed to the analgesic activity of the extract.
Antinociceptive Activities with the Possible Mechanisms of Action of Hydroethanol Leaf Extract of Eclipta prostrata Hassk (Astraceae) in Mice
