Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott

The ethanol extract of the dried rhizome of Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott. (Family - Araceae) was investigated for its possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models. The extract showed significant (P < 0.001) writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 300 and 600 mg/kg of body weight comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight. Moreover, when given orally to rats at dose of 300 and 600 mg/kg of body weight, the extract showed a significant (P < 0.001) anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced paw edema in rats which was comparable to the standard drug aspirin at the dose of 150 mg/kg of body weight. The overall results tend to suggest the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the crude ethanolic extract of dried rhizome of Alocasia indica (Roxb.) Schott. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.