ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF DICTYOPTERIS AUSTRALIS (SONDER) ASKENASY (BROWN SEAWEED) FROM PAMBAN, RAMANATHAPURAM DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

The present study was aimed to determine the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of Dictyopteris australis (Sonder) Askenasy collected from Pamban, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. The dried and powdered Dictyopteris australis was extracted in methanol to estimate the analgesic activity. The analgesic activity was assessed on intact rat by tail immersion method. Diclofenac Sodium in the dose of 100mg/kg was used as standard drug. Methanolic extracts of Dictyopteris australis were given in the doses of 200 and 400mg/kg. Control group received normal saline solution. All the doses were given orally. Results explained that both the doses of methanolic extracts of Dictyopteris australis had potent analgesic activity. From the observations, it was concluded that methanolic extract of Dictyopteris australis at 200mg/kg was found to have more effect as compared to 400mg/kg methanolic extract. Key words: Analgesic, Seaweeds, Dictyopteris, Methanolic extract, Pamban.