Local Anaesthetic Effect of Methanolic Leaves Extract of Lannea schimperi (Hoschst. Ex Rich) Eng.

BACKGROUND

Local anaesthetics provide relief from pain when applied locally to nerve tissue by blocking conduction of sensory nerve impulse from the receptor to the brain cortex.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at evaluating local anaesthetic activity of the methanolic leaves extract of Lannea schimperi.

METHODS

Six groups of five animals were used; groups I-IV were used for intracutaneous wheal test in guinea pigs for infiltration anaesthesia, while group V and VI were used for guinea pig corneal reflex method of surface anaesthesia.

RESULTS

The result indicated a significant ( 0.05) dose dependent local anaesthetic activity of the methanolic leaves extract of Lannea schimperi with faster onset and longer duration of action at 24 mg/ml than at 12 mg/ml of the extract. Additions of 5 μg of adrenaline into the 24 mg/ml preparation also prolonged the duration of local anaesthetic activity of the extract. The extract at 24 mg/ml significantly (0.05) inhibited corneal reflex, lidocaine was used as a standard drug in positive control group, while normal saline was used as negative control in all the treated groups.

CONCLUSION

The patent data therefore revealed that the methanolic leaves extract Lannea schimperi possess local anaesthetic principles that may require further scientific elucidation.