An experimental evaluation of analgesic activity of parthenium hysterophorus in swiss albino mice

Context: Parthenium hysterophorus, a prolific weed belonging to Asteraceae family posses many significant medicinal properties. Plant has been found to be pharmacologically active as analgesic in muscular rheumatism, therapeutic for neuralgia and as vermifuge.
Aims: The study was planned to study the analgesic activity of Parthenium hysterophorus in swiss albino mice.
Material and Methods: Experimental study was planned in healthy adult swiss albino mice of either sex weighing 25-50 gm in the laboratory of tertiary care teaching medical college. Acetic acid induced writhing test was used to evaluate the analgesic activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of aerial parts of plant. The results were expressed as Mean ± Standard Deviation (SD). The differences between experimental groups were compared by one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by test.
Results: Plant extract at dose 200mg/kg was not significantly analgesic as compare to control. Extract at dose 400mg/kg was very significant analgesic as compare to control. At higher dose extract at dose 800mg/kg showed highly significant analgesic property as compare to control. Overall, there was dose dependent increase in analgesic activity.
Conclusions: Parthenium hysterophorus extract showed significant analgesic activity in terms of reduction in number of writhes in experimental analysis.