*Corresponding Author:

Dr. Dwajani S
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, St.John's Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore-34, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: dwajani@gmail.com

Abstract

Objectives: 1) To evaluate the analgesic effect of atorvastatin and simvastatin. 2) To compare analgesic activity of these with an established drug tramadol. Materials and Methods: Healthy Albino rats were taken. They were randomly divided into 4 groups of six animals each. Group I: Normal Saline (0.5 ml), Group II: Tramadol (10 mg/kg BW), Group III: Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg BW) and Group IV: Simvastatin (10 mg/kg BW). The animals were subjected to 3 different tests at different interval of time. The tests conducted were tail clip method, Eddy’s hot plate and hot water tail immersion method. Results: Atorvastatin and simvastatin differ significantly from control hence they have analgesic action and even at any of the time intervals they do not differ significantly from tramadol; hence their analgesic effect is nearly comparable to tramadol. The results of the present study indicate that atorvastatin and simvastatin have analgesic action. Conclusion: These statins are found to have analgesic effect other than hypolipidemic activity and can be used in these patients. However further study has to be undertaken in a broader way.

Keywords

Analgesic, atorvastatin, rats, simvastatin

Introduction

Analgesics are the drugs that selectively relieve pain. The word analgesic derives from Greek an- (“without”) and algos (“pain”). These drugs act in various ways on the peripheral and central nervous systems. Analgesics are divided into 2 groups, Opiods and Non-Opiods. [1] In choosing analgesics, the severity and response to other medication determines the choice of agent. [2] Pain is defines as an unpleasant sensation and emotional experience associated with or without actual tissue damage [3] The analgesic choice is determined by type of pain. [4] There are different types of pain and the major ones include nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain. [5] We also have acute pain, chronic pain and cancer pain.

Statins are mainstay in the management of hyperlipidemias. These agents can reduce formation of the atherosclerotic plaques thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular events [6] Statins come under the category of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors, the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis [7] Atorvastatin is reported to have analgesic properties and also potentiate the action of other analgesics. Barsante, Roffe, Yakora, have summarized that statins have prevented nociception which are observed in inflamed joints and can reserve as better analgesic. [8] Hence the present study is designed for exploring the analgesic potential of atorvastatin and simvastatin which may widen the therapeutic horizon for the said agents.

Objectives

1. To evaluate the analgesic effect of atorvastatin and simvastatin.

2. To compare the analgesic activity of these drugs with an established drug tramadol.

Materials and Methods

Animals required

Healthy, albino rats (150-250 gm) twelve weeks old of either sex, bred locally in the animal house of S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center (SSIMSRC), Davanagere, are used for the study. They are housed under controlled condition of temperature 23 ± 2°C and 12 hour light and dark cycles respectively. The animals are housed individually in polypropylene cages containing sterile paddy husk, as bedding and are maintained on normal diet (Sri Durga feeds and foods, Bangalore) and water ad libitum. Animals are grouped into 4 of 6 animals each (n = 24).

Rationale for the use of animals

Since these are preliminary studies, the activity of above said drug has to be confirmed by animal experiments. As the rats are easy to handle, easily available, easy to subject them to testing and their nutrition resembles that of human. So, they are preferred for the usage for present study.

Study design

The animals were allocated randomly into 4 groups of 6 animals each as follows:

The animals were subjected to following test at different time intervals i.e., 15 mins, 30 mins, 1hr, 2hr, 5hr, and 12hr after injection and the parameters were noted.

Tail clip test: In which a fine polythene sheathed artery forceps is applied to the tip of the tail and time taken for biting and effort to remove the same is noted, [12,13] Eddy’s hot plate method: The initial reaction time of all the animals of control and test groups were recorded by putting them on the hot plate maintained at 55.5°C. Licking of paw or jumping was taken as the index of reaction to heat. [14] Hot water tail immersion test: Water was heated to 55°C in a water bath. The time taken for the animal to remove it tail out of the water was recorded. [15]

Dosing schedule

All the drugs are given according to their body weight once before starting the test.

Statistical analysis

The results were subjected to ANOVA test and other suitable applications.

Results

Refer Tables 1-3 and Figures 1-3.

Table 1: Tail clip method: average reaction time in seconds

Table 2: Hot plate method: average reaction time in seconds

Table 3: Hot water tail immersion test: average reaction time in seconds

Figure 1: Tail clip method

Figure 2: Hot plate method

Figure 3: Hot water tail immersion test

Discussion

In the present study, the analgesic effect of atorvastatin and simvastatin was evaluated. And was compared with the analgesic activity of standard drug tramadol.

Tail clip method

Results From the Table 1 and Figure 1, it is evident that, at all the time intervals (i.e., 15 min, 30 min, l hr, 2 hr, 5 hr and 12 hr) atorvastatin and simvastatin differ significantly from control hence they have analgesic action and even at any of the time intervals they do not differ significantly from tramadol, hence their analgesic effect is nearly similar to tramadol.

Eddy’s hot plate method

Similar to tail clip test even in Table 2 and Figure 2, at all the time intervals (i.e., 15 min, 30 min, l hr, 2 hr, 5 hr and 12 hr) atorvastatin and simvastatin differ significantly from control hence they have analgesic action and even at any of the time intervals they do not differ significantly from tramadol, hence their analgesic effect is nearly similar to tramadol.

Hot water tail immersion test

Results from Table 3 and Figure 3 also indicate that the values of atorvastatin and simvastatin at all the time intervals (i.e.,15 min, 30 min, l hr, 2 hr, 5 hr and 12 hr) differ significantly from control hence they have analgesic action. And even at any of the time intervals they do not differ significantly from tramadol, hence their analgesic effect is nearly similar to tramadol.

Conclusion

In the present study analgesic effect of atorvastatin and simvastatin was evaluated using tail clip method, hot plate method and hot water tail immersion method in albino rats. Normal saline was used as a control and tramadol as a standard drug.

An increase in the reaction time is generally considered and important parameter of central and peripheral analgesic activity by non selective cox-inhibition and nociceptors. The results of the present study indicate that atorvastatin and simvastatin have analgesic action and it is nearly comparable to that of tramadol at all the time intervals. Further the effects start and attain the peak, very early: It therefore can be used in acute painful conditions. However further study has to be undertaken in a broader way to find the exact mechanism involved in the exerted action.

Acknowledgment

The required drugs were obtained from pharmaceutical companies, -Zydus Cadila and Micro Labs duly acknowledged.

References

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