Analgesic activity of aqueous and methanol fruit pulp extracts of Hyphaene thebaica (Arecaceae) (Linn) mart in mice

Francis Désiré Bomba Tatsinkou; Georlin E. Fotabong; Bibiane A. Wandji; Marius Mbiantcha; Erastus N. Nembo; Armel Jackson Seukep; Elisabeth M. Zeuko’o; Telesphore B. Nguelefack; Emmanuel A. Asongalem

doi:10.1515/jcim-2024-0159

Article

Analgesic activity of aqueous and methanol fruit pulp extracts of Hyphaene thebaica (Arecaceae) (Linn) mart in mice

Francis Désiré Bomba Tatsinkou , Georlin E. Fotabong , Bibiane A. Wandji , Marius Mbiantcha , Erastus N. Nembo , Armel Jackson Seukep , Elisabeth M. Zeuko’o , Telesphore B. Nguelefack and Emmanuel A. Asongalem

Published/Copyright: February 11, 2025

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From the journal Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine Volume 22 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

Pain affects about one in every five persons and is considered a major global health burden. Hyphaene thebaica (Arecaceae), is a medicinal plant used in Cameroon, fruit pulp are macerated and orally administered in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, including hypertension, pain, and inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the pain-killing effect of fruit pulp extracts of H. thebaica in mice.

Methods

Aqueous (AEHT) and methanol (MEHT) extracts were prepared from fruit pulp of H. thebaica, followed by a qualitative phytochemical analysis. The extracts were given orally at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg in acute pain models such as acetic acid, formalin, hotplate, and capsaicin. Control groups included distilled water (negative), and diclofenac, morphine, ruthenium red, diazepam (positive). Naloxone pretreatment was used to assess opioid pathway involvement. Locomotor and sedative effects were evaluated using rota-rod and open-field tests. Acute toxicity was assessed at 2,000 mg/kg.

Results

Phytochemical tests revealed saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and phenols. Both extracts greatly decreased the writhing induced by acetic acid. MEHT inhibited both phases of formalin-induced pain (p<0.01). Both extracts significantly inhibited hotplate-induced nociception (p<0.001), partially reversed by naloxone, except for MEHT. In the capsaicin test, extracts produced a remarkable reduction of paw licking time (p<0.01). No motor coordination alteration or acute toxicity effects were observed.

Conclusions

The findings demonstrated the analgesic activity of AEHT and MEHT, mediated by the stimulation of opioids and blockage of vanilloid receptors pathways.

Keywords: analgesic activity; Hyphaene thebaica ; fruit pulp extracts; pain

Corresponding author: Francis Désiré Bomba Tatsinkou, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, 107749 University of Buea , P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon; and Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon, E-mail: bomba.tatsinkou@ubuea.cm

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the traditional herbalist Ms. Marie Fidelie Mbezele who provided plant materials and the University of Buea for providing all the facilities.

Research ethics: The protocol for the experiments with animals underwent review and approval by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of the University of Buea (UB-IACUC N°18/2023).
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: Francis Desire Bomba Tatsinkou, Emeleke Fotabong Georlin, and Emmanuel Acha Asongalem designed, collected data, and wrote the manuscript; Francis Desire Bomba Tatsinkou, and Emmanuel Acha Asongalem supervised the work and analyzed the data; Bibiane Aimee Wandji, Marius Mbiantcha, Erastus Nembu Nembo, Armel Jackson Seukep, Elisabeth Menkem Zeuko’o, and Telesphore Benoit Nguelefack reviewed the paper draft. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: All data supporting the findings of this study are available within the paper. Should any raw data files be needed in another format they are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Received: 2024-08-10

Accepted: 2024-12-31

Published Online: 2025-02-11

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2024-0159

Keywords for this article

analgesic activity; Hyphaene thebaica; fruit pulp extracts; pain