Assessment of Acute Toxicity and Analgesic Activity of Organic and Aqueous Fractions from Retama Monosperma Stems
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Abstract
Retama monosperma, an endemic Mediterranean plant, is traditionally used for various illnesses
and various biological activities due to its bioactive phytochemicals. The current research study
investigated the acute toxicity and analgesic activity of the fractions from the stems of Retama
monosperma. These activities were conducted in vivo using animal models (Swiss albino mice
and Wistar Albino rats), focusing on the four fractions obtained from the stems of Retama
monosperma (hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and aqueous), through Soxhlet extraction. Acute
oral toxicity was assessed in mice, while analgesic activity was evaluated using the acetic acidinduced writhing test for peripheral effects and the tail immersion test for central effects. The
fractions were confirmed to be nontoxic at doses of 50 and 2000 mg/kg, with the lethal dose
exceeding 50 mg/kg for the ethanol fraction and 2000 mg/kg for the other fractions. The
fractions studied inhibited the pain in a dose-dependent manner in the acetic acid-induced
writhing test, especially for the ethyl acetate fraction. However, in the tail immersion test, the
fractions did not exhibit significantly enhanced effects. The analgesic activity of Retama
monosperma stems could be ascribed to the secondary metabolites detected in this plant. This
study demonstrated the safety of fractions of R. monosperma in acute toxicity and highlights
their potential for peripheral analgesic activity. Future investigations, including the isolation of
active compounds, are necessary to complete this work and improve the application of this
species in pain-associated diseases.
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