In vivo analgesic, muscle relaxant, sedative and toxicological studies of Senna bicapsularis (L.) Roxb

Senna bicapsularis is an important medicinal plant that has been traditionally used as a purgative and muscle relaxant as well as for the treatment of pain. The current work focused on phytochemicals to explore the analgesic, muscle relaxant, sedative and toxicological effects of the aerial part of Senna bicapsularis in an animal model. An acetic-acid-induced writhing screening showed that pretreatment of methanolic, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts exhibited excellent analgesic activity at 500 mg/kg i.p. In chimney and traction, the crude butanolic and aqueous extracts showed a promising muscle relaxation effect at 500 mg/kg i.p., while the sedative effect of the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts exhibited good activity at 500 mg/kg i.p. Crude extracts of S. bicapsularis were assessed for anti-inflammatory potency during a 5-h experiment, and the ethanolic and methanolic extract exhibited excellent inhibition in carrageenan-induced paw oedema among entire extracts. These provided natural products chemists for the treatment of pain and relaxation of muscles.