Abstract

Purpose of this study was to standardize the drug Xanthoxylum fraxineum by performing chemical analysis including FTIR and to evaluate its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties as the drug has folkloric uses as an anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic and analgesic agent. Chemical analysis revealed presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and phytosterols. Mice were employed to determine the analgesic activity by inducing writhes with acetic acid and licking by formalin injection. Both methods revealed good analgesic activity. Drug was evaluated at 300 and 500 mg/kg doses and the analgesic effects were compared with that of the standard that is, aspirin 300 mg/kg. Both doses produced significant analgesic activity at PË‚0.05. Analgesia caused by the drug was higher than that caused by the standard. Moderate anti-inflammatory activity was also observed during formalin test. The results were in consistence with the folkloric claims made for this drug suggesting that the drug can be used for the claimed purposes. However, identification, safety and mechanism of action of its active constituents should be established to compare it with already available analgesics.

Key words: Standardize, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, Fourier transform infra-red.