Evaluation of analgesic and antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of Nymphaea alba rhizome

Abstract

Anindya Bose, Sarbani Dey Ray, Moumita Sahoo

Nymphaea alba is rich in phytoconstituents that posses pharmacological actions. But any scientific literature about its antioxidant and analgesic actions using its rhizome part is not documented. So the objective of the present research is focused to evaluate the analgesic activity and antioxidant potential by different models of scavenging properties of N.alba extract. Nymphaea alba rhizome ethanol extract was investigated for their analgesic activity by acetic acid- and formalin-induced analgesia and antioxidant activities employing 3 in vitro assay systems, i.e. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion radicals scavenging. The reducing properties and total phenolic content was also observed. The extract at a dose of 600 mg/kg was found more potent in acetic acid induced pain and showed more licking activity in both the phases of formalin acid induced pain than the standard drug. IC50 values for DPPH, NO and superoxide radical-scavenging activity were 63.9, 49.21 and 79.56 μg/ml, respectively. The IC50 of extract is more comparable to the standard drug for scavenging superoxide anion than the other methods. The antioxidant activities of N.alba ethanolic extract was moderate in comparison to the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid, achieved by the scavenging ability observed against DPPH, NO radicals and superoxide anions. The antioxidant effects observed in this study may be due to the presence of tannins and phenolic compounds. However, unless a thorough compositional analysis of the extract along with activity correlation is not carried out there can be no statements with high degree of certainty.