Arq Ajeeb prevents capsaicin induced visceral pain and indomethacin induced gastric ulcer pain in male Swiss mice

Abstract

Visceral pain is a characteristic complaint of gastrointestinal disorders. Arq Ajeeb (AA), is an Unani pharmacopeial formulation used to treat gastrointestinal pain. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of AA in visceral pain models. Acute toxicity study of AA was done as per OECD guidelines 423. For analgesic activity, Capsaicin-induced visceral and Indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer pain models were used. Adult male Swiss mice were divided into five groups of six each, viz. negative, positive, standard, test A, and B groups. AA administered orally (0.05 and 0.1 ml/kg). In first test, pain was induced by intracolonic administration of capsaicin (200 microliters); spontaneous behavior was observed and referred hyperalgesia tested by Von Frey filament. Gastric ulcer was induced with indomethacin (30mg/kg). The standard control animals were treated with omeprazole (20mg/kg) and test groups received AA as in previous test. Referred hyperalgesia was quantified and mucosal surface was examined for ulceration. AA was taken to GCMS analysis as well. The result of AA was safe at 300 mg/kg. In the capsaicin model, mice treated with tramadol and AA at both doses showed significant reduction in pain behavior (p˂0.01; p˂0.001; p˂0.05) respectively. In indomethacin model, pain threshold in standard, test group A and B increased (p˂0.01; p˂0.001; p˂0.001) at 4 hr, and after 24 hours (p˂0.05; p˂0.05; p˂0.05) with significant ulcer reduction (p˂0.01; p˂0.01; p˂0.01) respectively. The study concluded that AA has profound analgesic and anti-ulcerogenic activities in mice, validating the Unani claims that AA is effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal pain.