Abstract

The crude ethanol extract of leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L). (Apocynaceae) was screened for its preliminary antinociceptive activity. The extract produced significant writhing inhibition in acetic acid induced mice at the oral dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01) comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight. The result tends to suggest the antinociceptive activity of the extract.

Key words: Tabernaemontana divaricata, antinociceptive, writhing.