Analgesic Activity of Murraya koenigii Leaf Extract in Rats

Abstract

Some native doctors practising the traditional system of medicine in Sri Lanka recommend leaf extracts of Murra-,-a koenigii Spreng. Syst. Veg. (Family Rutaceae; known as karapincha in Sinhala and karuvembu in Tamil) tbr the relief of pain associated with abdominal colic' Thus it is possible that these leaves possess potent analgesic activity, bui this has not been evaluated scientifically. Furthermore, if the presence of potent antinociceptive activity in the leaves of M. ioenigii is proven scientifically, then it could be used as a potential natural source for the development of novel analgesic drugs. Virtually every pharmacological class of drug includes a natural product prototype, most frequently plantderived [1]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of a water extract of mature leaves of M. koenigii in both males and females using tail flick [2] and hot plate [2] paradigms.