Evaluation of In-vitro Antimicrobial, Anti-arthritis and In-vivo Analgesic and Neuropharmacological Investigation of the Bark Extract of Solanum americanum Milli
Authors: Ayshi Mariya Alam , Ritu Tajmim Jahan 
Published: September 2023

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of methanol-prepared bark extract of Solanum americanum Milli. Bark on several in vitro activities, including antimicrobial and anti-arthritis effects. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the analgesic and neuropharmacological properties of the extracts in an animal model.

Place and Duration of Study: The research study was carried out from March 2023 to July 2023 at the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and the Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, as well as the Laboratory of Microbiology at Stamford University Bangladesh, Dhaka.

Methodology: The methodology involved various doses of methanolic bark extract of Solanum americanum Milli (MESAB), and employed techniques such as the Disk Diffusion Method for antimicrobial test and the Inhibition of Protein Denaturation Assay for anti-arthritic test. The analgesic efficacy was assessed by the hot plate test and administration of acetic acid induced writhing responses in Swiss albino mice. The mechanism test is conducted through the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) test. The neuropharmacological inquiry included the measurement of locomotor activity through the utilization of open field and hole cross tests.

Results: The Disk Diffusion Test of MESAB yielded findings indicating its antimicrobial properties against all strains used in this research. The findings from the study examining the anti-arthritis properties indicate that MESAB exhibits a significant efficacy of 94.59% in inhibiting arthritis at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. This level of efficacy is comparable to that of diclofenac sodium, which also has a similar efficacy of 98.19% at the same concentration. The findings of the present study demonstrated that MESAB displayed analgesic properties in both analgesic models, suggesting the involvement of both central and peripheral pathways. Based on the results of the study, it was observed that the administration of MESAB at a dosage of 400 mg/kg had a significant analgesic effect. The application of MB before to treatment resulted in a further enhancement of this effect, leading to an increase in the percentage of inhibition from 66.75% to 79.70%, respectively. The consideration of the involvement of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor in neuropharmacological activity holds significant importance. In the Open Field and Hole Cross Tests, it was shown that the extract exhibited significant result compared to Diazepam in terms of increasing motor coordination.

Conclusion: In the future, plant-derived pharmacological compounds may offer potential benefits for various clinical disorders, such as neurodegenerative illnesses. These substances possess neuropharmacological properties, antibacterial effects, and anti-arthritic activity, which could potentially serve as alternatives to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).