Evaluation of the analgesic activity of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus eous mushroom

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic activity of the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of Pleurotus eous (P. eous) mushroom. METHODS: The dried fruiting bodies were extracted with ethyl acetate, methanol and water. The analgesic effect of extracts of P. eous were investigated at doses 250,500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight, using acetic-acid induced writhing, hot-plate, tail immersion and tail-clip tests. RESULTS: P. eous extracts produced significant reduction in number of writhes induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic-acid (P<0.05). Moreover, in hot-plate and tail immersion test, all the three extracts significantly raised the pain threshold at different time of observation (0-60 min) in comparison with control (P<0.05). In tail-clip test the extracts also caused a significant inhibition of pain at both the doses used (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of present study suggest that extracts of P. eous possess potent analgesic property and could serve as a base for future drugs.