Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Strychnos potatorum L.f. seed extracts

Abstract

The successive ethanolic and aqueous seed extracts of Strychnos potatorum L.f. (family: Loganiaceae) were investigated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activites at 500 mg/ kg body weight administered intraperitoneally (i.p.). Routine preliminary toxicity studies of these extracts were carried out in mice. For analgesic activity eddy's hot plate in swiss mice and for anti-inflammatory activity carrageenan induced oedema techniques in albino rat model were used. Moderate to significant analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of seed were observed, which is comparable to pentagocine, the standard analgin included especially at 120 min. Further, moderate to significant anti-inflammatory of the extracts were observed and this is reported to be long-lasting which can be comparable to the standard, diclofenac sodium. In conclusion, the results indicate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities for the seed extracts of S. potatorum studied.