Analgesic Activity of Methanolic Extract of Tubers of Arisaema tortuosum (Wall.) Schott. in Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

The aim of the the present study was to investigate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of
Arisaema tortuosum (MEAT) using acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate methods. The hot plate method is
useful in elucidating centrally mediated antinociceptive responses, while acetic acid-induced writhing is the
chemically induced pain of peripheral origin. The MEAT was used at doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body
weight on swiss albino mice. The percentage inhibition of the abdominal constriction reflex increased dose
dependently in case of acetic acid-induced pain and in the hot plate method model the extract at the dose of 400
mg/kg significantly increased the pain reaction time (PRT). These studies conclude that A. tortuosum (Wall.) Schott.
tuber possesses analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner. In case of acetic acid-induced pain, the extract at the
dose of 400 mg/kg body wt. showed 41.19% inhibition of writhing reflex. In case of hot plate method, after 60
minutes the PRT increased to 7.47 ± 0.05 seconds for the extract at the dose of 400 mg/kg body wt.