Anti-nociceptive Potential of Scurrula parasitica: An Unexploited Parasitic Plant

Abstract

Scurrula parasitica (Loranthaceae) is an herbaceous growing shrub parasitic on Dendrophthoe falcata (Loranthaceae) which is itself parasitic on Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae). Scurrula parasitica is distributed throughout the western ghat region of Maharashtra, some parts of Uttar Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Genus Scurrula comprising of around 91 species, however, only S. ferruginea, S. atropurpurea, S. fusca have been investigated systematically. No such pharmacological and phytochemical data are available on the plant Scurrula parasitica. So, the main intention of the current study is to investigate the unexploited angiospermic parasite plant, Scurrula parasitica for its ethno medical claims as well as pharmacological activities based on chemotaxonomic tracing, in experimental animals. The dried methanol extract (SPM) of the whole plant of Scurrula parasitica L was studied for its analgesic activity using animal models such as- Acetic-acid-induced writhing test (chemical stimulation), Heat conduction method (thermal stimulation) in comparison with Diclofenac sodium as reference standards. The SPM was given in doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight in which dose 400 mg/kg given significant results in comparison with reference standard Diclofenac sodium. The study may conclude that some chemical entities transferred from host Dendrophthoe falcata to the parasite Scurrula parasitica are accountable for its anti-nociceptive potential.

Keywords: Scurrula parasitica, anti-nociceptive, writhing, heat-conduction