Antinociceptive properties of Ficus bengalensis (bark) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of ficus fraction in thermal as well as chemogenic stimuli models in mice. Alloxan induced diabetic mice showed a significant decrease (p<0.001) in tail-flick and hot-plate latencies and increase in serum glucose level, hind paw cumulative withdrawal latencies in allodynia, formalin pain responses, formalin-induced paw oedema and number of writhers formed indicating the accomplishment of hyperalgesia. The simultaneous treatment with ficus fraction reversed the two thermal thresholds in both tail-flick and hot-plate latencies and consequent decrease in allodynia responses suggesting reduction of hyperalgesic condition. The neutralising effect of chemogenic nociception (pain score due to formalin, harmful effects of acetic acid and paw oedema) is due to stimulation of the autonomic nervous system, which helps in absorbing the acids into nutrient metabolic pathways or due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ficus fraction. Overall, the activation of opioidergic systems appears to play a crucial role in ficus-induced antinociception.