Anti-Nociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Annona squamosa L. Leaf Extract in Mice and Rats

Pain and inflammation occur as a result of first line defense against injuries and offer the primary signs in the diagnosis of many diseases. A number of medicinal plants available worldwide are helpful in management of pain and inflammation. In the present article the action of leaf extract of Annona squamosa L. in management of pain and inflammation is reported. Wistar rats and mice were used in the study. The ethanolic extract of Annona squamosa L. was examined for centrally acting analgesic action by using the hot plate method and acetic acid-induced writhing method for peripherally acting analgesic action. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by using Plethysmometer. The study was carried out at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight of the crude extract. The extract exhibited significant increase in reaction time; P<0.001 against acetic acid induced writhing and P<0.01 against hot plate induced nociception as compared to the standard drug Pentazocine. The carageenan induced rat paw edema was significantly decreased by 47.16%.