EFFECT OF LONG TERM CONSUMPTION OF AQUEOUS DATE FRUIT EXTRACT ON ANALGESIA RESPONSE IN MALE RAT

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pain is one of the first symptoms of diseases. So many efforts have been applied for pain determination and relief. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of chronic consumption of aqueous date fruit extract (ADFE) in male rat.METHODS: This experimental study was performed on 48 male NMRI rats (250±25gr). Animals divided into two groups as follow: control and experimental group. ADFE (10%) was added to drinking water of the experimental group for 21 days. Control group received distilled water. Then formalin, tail flick and paw pressure tests were applied for comparing the two groups.FINDINGS: Aqueous extract of date fruit (10%) in chronic phase of formalin test showed significant difference between two groups in regard to pain decrease (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the two groups in acute phase of formalin test and also tail flick and paw pressure tests.CONCLUSION: Since date fruit has shown no effect in acute phase of formalin test, tail flick and paw pressure so it can be concluded that ADFE has no central effects in decreasing pain. Considering the analgesic effect of ADFE on chronic phase of formalin test, it seems that the analgesic effect of ADFE is mainly peripheral and anti-inflammatory.

Keywords

• date fruit
• antinociception
• tail flick test
• paw pressure test
• rat