Abstract

The methanolic extract of the rhizome of Stylochiton lancifolius (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was evaluated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain and formalin-induced-inflammation. The methanol extract exhibited significant (P<0.001) inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and a significant (P<0.001) reduction in paw licking time of the second phase of formalin-induced pain in rats. The methanol extract also produced a significant (P<0.001) anti-inflammatory effect in formalin-induced inflammation which is comparable to that of the reference drug Piroxicam (10 mg/kg), which is a standard analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. The intraperitoneal (i.p) median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of the methanol extract of S. lancifolius was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg in mice. The result obtained from this study showed that the methanol extract of S. lancifolius possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities and supports the ethnomedical claim of the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammatory conditions.

Key words: Stylochiton lancifolius, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, acute toxicity, mice and rats.