Antinociceptive and Hypoglycemic Activities of Scindapsus officinalis (Roxb.) Schott in Laboratory Animals

Aims: The fruit of Scindapsus officinalis is known as Gajapeepal in Ayurveda. The folk lore claim of S. officinalis fruits are antidiabetic, anthelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, carminative, expectorant, tonic, antiprotozoal, anticancer, sharpening hearing, cardiotonic and regulating the bowel and appetite. It is also used in dysentery, asthma, troubles of the throat, bronchitis and for many other medical conditions. Hence the present studies were undertaken to highlight the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of the fruit.

Study Design: In this study, the ethanol extract of S. officinalis (EE0SF) was primarily evaluated through phytochemical screening. The compounds found in the fruit are of pharmacological interest which prompted us to focus the research on its possible analgesic and anti-diabetic activity and whether these effects are of any statistical significance.

Place and Duration of Study: The research experiments were conducted in the Pharmacology laboratory of Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The studies were carried out during July 2013 to January 2013.

Methodology: Qualitative phytochemical tests for the identification of various chemical constituents in the fruit extract were carried out with proper reagents. Analgesic potential of the fruit extract was assessed using acetic acid induced writhing response in Swiss albino mice. In this method, acetic acid is injected intraperitoneally to the experimental animals and the response is contraction of the abdominal muscles and the stretching of the hind limps. The fruit was further subjected to anti-diabetic study through six segment method and was investigated for anti-hyperglycemic effects in Long Evans rats.

Results: Phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extract of S. officinalis has indicated the presence of steroid, carbohydrate, flavonoid, alkaloid, tanin, saponin and terpenoid-compounds. The analgesic experiment yielded a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in writhing at both 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight dose of extract in a dose dependent manner. The extract, at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight, caused a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent inhibition of sucrose absorption in six different segments of the gut and manifested hypoglycemic effects in rats at four different hours.

Conclusion: In conclusion, these observations provide evidence and possible mechanisms of action for the medicinal properties of fruit of S.officinalis claimed in Ayurveda medicine.