Pharmacological Evaluation of the Anesthetic and Analgesic Potential of Injection Harsha 22: A Novel Polyherbal Local Anesthetic Formulation Intended for Parenteral Administration in Wistar Albino Rats

Abstract

Background

Local anaesthetics are medications that cause numbness that can be reversed by applying them topically. Local anaesthetics are clinically used to control pain during minor surgeries or to treat other acute and chronic pain. The present investigation intended to investigate the anesthetic as well as analgesic potential of Injection Harsha 22, a novel polyherbal formulation in Wistar albino rats.

Methods

The anesthetic potential of Injection Harsha 22 was evaluated by a heat tail-flick latency (TFL) test, whereas the analgesic effect was elevated by electrical stimulation testing. Here, lignocaine (2%) was used as the standard anesthetic drug.

Results

In TFL, Injection Harsha 22 showed anesthetic effects up to 90 minutes after application. Also, the duration of anesthesia in rats that were administered subcutaneously with Injection Harsha 22 was comparable to that of the rats treated with commercial lignocaine (2%). In an electrical stimulation test, single administration of Injection Harsha 22 to rats significantly prolonged analgesia compared with the normal control group. The median duration of analgesia in rats administered subcutaneously with Injection Harsha 22 and lignocaine solution was 40 minutes and 35 minutes, respectively. Furthermore, Injection Harsha 22 does not interfere with the hematopoietic system of the experiment animals.

Conclusion

Thus, the present investigation established the in vivo anesthetic and analgesic potential of Injection Harsha 22 in experimental animals. Hence, it can be concluded that Injection Harsha 22 can become a prominent substitute for lignocaine as a local anaesthetic agent after establishing its efficacy through stringent clinical trials in humans.

Keywords:

• anesthetic
• analgesic
• local anesthetic
• polyherbal anesthetic formulation
• Wistar rats

Data Sharing Statement

All data pertaining to this study are within the paper.

Ethical Approval

The Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of CARe KERALAM Ltd. examined and approved the application with the approval number [CKL/TOX/IAEC/2021-2/158]. The experimental rats were cared for and used in accordance with OECD guidelines for laboratory animal care and use.

Acknowledgment

The authors express their gratitude to “Aadhyathma Chinthalayesan” of Chinthalaya Ashram, Pothencode, Trivandrum, Kerala, India, for his compassion and blessings. We are grateful to Pankajakasthuri Herbal Research Foundation, Kattakada, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, and Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Pvt. Ltd Poovachal, Kattakada, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, for helping us with the research. We would also like to thank all of the Directors and Employees of Pankajakasthuri Herbal Research Foundation and Pankajakasthuri Herbals India Pvt. Ltd for their assistance in the completion of this project. The authors would like to thank CARe KERALAM Ltd. in Koratty, Thrissur, Kerala, India, for providing the necessary infrastructure for the animal experiments.

Author Contributions

All authors made substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest in this work.