Buchholzia coriacea Seed Methanol Extract Represses Nociception via Central Pathway Mechanisms in Swiss Mice

Abstract

Background: Nociception is one of the features seen in neurological disorders. Certain edible seeds contain bioactive phytochemicals that are shown to have anti-nociceptive features. Buchholzia coriacea seed is used in folkloric medicine for the management of pain associated ailments. Hence, this study research work was done to assess the therapeutic properties of Buchholzia coriacea methanol extract (MEBC) on nociception and its mechanisms in Swiss mice. Methods: Buchholzia coriacea seeds purchased at indigenous Market at Oje in Ibadan and were authenticated at the Forest Herbarium Ibadan (FHI: 110572), pulverised and cold extracted with methanol. Forty-five male Swiss mice (23-27 g) were divided into nine treatment groups (n=5): control (10 mL/kg), MEBC (50, 100, 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o). Antinociceptive activity was evaluated one hour after Acetic Acid-induced Writhing Test (AAWT), Formalin-induced Paw Licking Test (FPLT) and Tail Flick Test (TFT) on mice. Results: The GC-MS revealed the presence of 31 compounds with Linoleic acid as the most abundant. In the mechanistic study, mice were pre-treated with naloxone (1 mg/kg), atropine (2 mg/kg), propranolol (10 mg/kg), haloperidol (1.5 mg/kg), 15 minutes prior to MEBC (200 mg/kg) administration. The MEBC (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) significantly reduced writhing in AAWT, inflammatory pain in FPLT and increased latency in TFT. Opiate blocker naloxone, cholinergic antagonist atropine, beta adrenergic blocker propranolol and dopamine D2 receptor antagonist haloperidol (1mg/kg; 2 mg/kg; 10 mg/kg; 1.5 mg/kg) are the blockers used and significantly reversed anti-nociception when compared with 200 mg/kg in the TFT model. Conclusion: The findings from this study showed that Buchholzia coriacea inhibits nociception which be attributed to the synergistic activity of the active compounds as indicated by the GS-MC and the mechanism(s) of action mediate via the central nervous system pathways.

Keywords: Nociception, Buchholzia coriacea, abdominal writhing, latency period, Naloxone, Haloperidol