Antinociceptive and Antiinflammatory Effects of Methanolic Extract of Benincasa hispida Fruit Peel in Rodents

Abstract

The effect of methanolic extract of fruit peel of Benincasa hispida was investigated on chemical, thermal-induced pain as well as fresh egg albumin-induced inflammation and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion in rodents. The extract dose-dependently (0.25-1.5 g/kg) inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain licking and hot plate-induced pain in mice. The extract significantly inhibited both the fresh egg albumin-induced inflammation in rats as well as pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsion in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (p < 0.02-0.001). It increased the latencies of both clonic and tonic convulsions and delayed their mortalities. Its ability to reduce both neurogenic and non-neurogenic pains may be related to its active constituents such as tannins, saponins, steroid and flavonoids.