Antinociceptive effects of an ethanolic extract of Desmodium adscendens: possible involvement of opioidergic, adrenergic, potassium channels and serotoninergic pathways:

Audrey   S Bonsu; Patrick  Amoateng; Kwasi A  Bugyei; Jerry  Asiedu-Larbi; Stephen  Antwi; Akua A  Asiedu-Ofei; Dorcas  Osei-Safo; Kennedy KE  Kukuia; Samuel B  Kombian

doi:10.46829/hsijournal.2020.12.1.2.71-81

Audrey S Bonsu Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Patrick Amoateng Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Kwasi A Bugyei Department of Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Jerry Asiedu-Larbi Department of Pharmacology, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong–Akuapem, Ghana.
Stephen Antwi Department of Pharmacology, Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong–Akuapem, Ghana.
Akua A Asiedu-Ofei Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumasi Technical University, Kumasi, Ghana.
Dorcas Osei-Safo Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Kennedy KE Kukuia Department of Medical Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Samuel B Kombian Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Health Science Center, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2020.12.1.2.71-81

Keywords: Desmodium adscendens, analgesia, paclitaxel, hyperalgesia, allodynia

Abstract

Background: Pain is a major symptom usually associated with most disease states. Despite the existence of many therapies, the management of pain remains unsatisfactory globally. Medicinal plants have been used since medieval times and are still being used today for treating some ailments. Desmodium adscendens is used traditionally for the treatment of epilepsy, pain, and inflammatory conditions. However, data on its effect on pain is very scanty.
Objective: This study sought to investigate the antinociceptive effect of an ethanolic extract of D. adscendens in rodents.
Methods: The pulverized whole plant material of D. adscendens was extracted by cold maceration with 70% ethanol. Chemical, thermal, and neuropathic pain were induced in rodents. The possible mechanisms of analgesia of the extract were also investigated.
Results: The extract of D. adscendens (DAE) attenuated acetic acid-induced writhing (p = 0.0012), ameliorated formalin-induced nociceptive pain in both the first (p = 0.0058) and second phases (p = 0.0116), increased the percent maximal possible effect (%MPE) in the hot plate test (p < 0.0001) and significantly reduced paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in both thermal hyperalgesia (p < 0.0001) and cold allodynia (p = 0.0024). The analgesic effect exhibited by DAE was significantly reversed in the presence of naloxone, glibenclamide, ondansetron, prazosin, and yohimbine. However, the analgesic effect of DAE was not significantly affected
by theophylline, atropine, L-Nitro-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and nifedipine.
Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of D. adscendens inhibited chemical, thermal, and paclitaxel-induced neuropathic nociception. The DAE may be acting through the opioidergic, adrenergic systems, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channels, and the serotoninergic pathways to ameliorate pain in murine models.