This study evaluated the analgesic activity of the metabolic leaf extract of
Jatropha Curcas
(Linn) in vivo using
analgesic models viz: Hot plate method in mice, tail flick or immersion method in rat and acetic acid-induced writhing reflex
model in mice. In all the models, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) was used as the reference drug. In the hot plate and tail flick
models, the oral administration of
J. curcas extract at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg and the reference drug ASA (400
mg/kg) showed potent analgesic effect by significantly (P<0.001) increasing the pain reaction time dose dependently in mice
and rats. Also the reference drug and the extract of
J. curcas significantly (P<0.0001) decreased the number of the abodominal
contortions in the acetic acid-induced writing reflex in mice and increased the percentage protection in a dose dependent
manner. In conclusion, this study indicates that the methanolic leaf extract of Jatropha curcas has significant analgesic
properties and may be acting through both peripheral and central pain mechanisms.
