Abstract:
Leaves of Piper belle Linn (Piperaceae) possess a broad
spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic properties.
However, its antinociceptive activity has not been investigated
so far. The aim of this study therefore, was to
examine the antinociceptive activity of hot water extract
(HWE) and cold ethanol extract (GEE) of P. betle leaves
using rats and three models of nociception (tail flick, hot
plate, and fonnalin tests). Different concentrations of
HWE (125, 200, 300, 500mg/kg) and CEE (125, 200,
300, 500mg/kg) were made and orally administrated to
rats, and the reaction times were determined. The results
showed that the extracts have marked antinociceptive
activity when evaluated in the hot plate and the formalin
tests but not in the tail-flick test. The overall antinociceptive
effect of CEE was higher than that of HWE.
The antinociceptive effect was mediated via opioid
mechanisms.
