Acute Toxicity and Antinociceptive Properties of Delphinium denudatum

Abstract

The aqueous root extract of the Delphinium denudatum was evaluated for acute oral toxicity and antinociceptive effects in mice. Oral doses up to 14,000mg/kg did not induce death, some CNS depression was observed and the LD₅₀ was found at 16,100mg/kg. At the four dose levels used (200–1600rnglkg, p.o.), D. denudatum extract demonstrated a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in the thermal and chemical models of analgesia. Pretreatment with naloxone did not alter the analgesic effect of D. denudatum extract suggesting that some mechanism other than opioid is involved in their action.

Keywords: :

• Delphinium denudatum
• Unani medicine
• acute oral toxicity
• antinociception
• tail-flick test
• writhing test
• mice