Antinociceptive, antibacterial and diuretic activities of Cerbera odollam Gaertn roots

The crude methanolic extract of the roots of Cerbera odollam Gaertn. was evaluated for its possible antinociceptive, antibacterial and diuretic activities in animal models. At the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight, the extract showed a significant antinociceptive effect in acetic acid induced writhing in mice comparable to that produced by aspirin, used as standard drug (P<0.001).The extract of C. odollam exhibited significant in vitro antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Shigella sonnie, Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholera, Streptococcus epidermidis, Shigella flexneri and Staphylococcus aureus with the zones of inhibition ranging from 10.76 to 16.34 mm. Diuretic activity was proved by the electrolyte loss ratio (Na+/K+ excretion ratio was 1.38 and 1.45 at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg respectively) as that of the standard diuretic furosemide (1.37) The obtained results tend to suggest the probable antinociceptive, antibacterial and diuretic activities of the crude extract.