RESEARCH ARTICLE EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANALGESIC POTENTIAL OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CEIBA PENTANDRA

The present study was done to determine the antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of methanolic extract of stem bark of Ceiba pentandra by oral administration at doses of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg/day of body weight to healthy swiss albino mice. The methanolic extract was studied for their anti-inflammatory activity by using carrageenaninduced hind paw edema in mice and the mean increase in paw volume and % inhibition in paw volume were measured plethysmometer at diffentent time intervals after carrageenan (1% w/v) injection. The methanolic extract was also evaluated for analgesic activity using Eddy’s hot plate method in albino mice. The extract of Ceiba pentandra showed significant (P<0.05) reduction in the carrageenaninduced paw edema in mice and analgesic activity evidenced by increase in the reaction time by Eddy’s hot plate method and tail flick method in albino mice. The methanolic extract showed a significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect when compared with the standard drugs, indomethacin and pentazocine respectively. The present observation indicated significant (P<0.001) activity of the methanolic extract of Ceiba pentandra in the treatment of inflammation and pain.