Abstract

In the current investigation, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions from Annona coriacea leaves were evaluated using standard experimental test models. The antinociceptive activity of A. coriacea was studied by acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and hot-plate tests, and the anti-inflammatory activity was determined by carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Inhibition of the acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions was observed at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. After injection of formalin, the dose of 100 mg/kg inhibited the time spent paw licking in the first phase, while the second phase was inhibited at the doses of 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg. In the hot-plate assay, the reaction time was increased at 90 min in animals that received 100 mg/kg. Doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema,the exudate volume, and leucocyte migration. The present results demonstrate that fractions ofA. coriacea have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting the use of this plant in folk medicine.

Key words: Annonaceae, Annona coriacea, antinociceptive activity, anti-inflammatory activity.