ANTINOCICEPTIVE AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF THE METHANOL EXTRACT OF URTICA CRENULATA STEM

The methanol extract of Urtica crenulata stem was evaluated for its antinociceptive properties on the pain induced by acetic acid and formalin in Swiss albino mice. The methanol extract of U. crenulata at a dose of 1 g/kg produced an inhibition of 32.3% on pain induced by acetic acid and at a dose of 1.5 g/kg produced an inhibition of 31.0% for that induced by formalin. The antiinflammatory activity of the same extract was estimated volumetrically by measuring the mean increase in hind paw volume of carrageenan-induced Wistar albino rat with the help of plethysmometer. Oral administration of stem extract at a dose of 1 g/kg showed no significant effect in the reduction of carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Diclofenac sodium at a dose of 40 mg/kg was used as a standard drug in the inhibition of acetic acid induced pain and carrageenan-induced paw oedema whereas morphine was used as the same in formalin-induced pain inhibition.