Abstract

ANAESTHETIC, ANALGESIC AND ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITIES OF MICROCOSMUS EXASPERATUS HELLER, 1878

Magil Inbaraj Delighta Mano Joyce*, Vaidyanathapuram Kesavan Meenakshi*,
Manuelraj Paripooranaselvi and Sudalaimuthu Gomathy

Abstract

The vast marine environment is a very rich source of most biologically active compounds. Microcosmus exasperatus is a simple ascidian belonging to the family Pyuridae. The present study aims to assess the anaesthetic, analgesic and antipyretic activities of the ethanolic extract of Microcosmus exasperatus using intracutaneous wheal method, aminobarbitone induced sleeping time, muscle relaxation, Eddy’s hot plate, heat conduction and Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia methods on Wistar albino rats. A dose dependent increase was noted in local and general anaesthetic activity. Maximum response was observed in the group treated with the highest dose of the extract. Significant analgesic activity by increasing threshold potential of pain compared to diclofenac (standard drug) was registered in the extract administered groups in both the methods. An effective antipyretic activity by reducing the rectal temperature from 1 hr to 6 hr was noted in all the extract treated groups similar to that of paracetamol. Hence, the results suggest that the ethanolic extract of Microcosmus exasperatus possess significant anaesthetic, analgesic and antipyretic activities.

Keywords: Microcosmus exasperatus, anaesthetic, analgesic, antipyretic.