ANALGESIC EFFECTS INDUCED BY HYPOXOSIDE, A NORLIGNAN GLUCOSIDE FROM HYPOXIS SPP

Hypoxoside, a glucoside isolated from the rhizomes of Hypoxis spp., wa s investigated for its analgesic activity, Hypoxoside administered int raperitoneally at doses of 1, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg did not induce gross behavioural alterations or locomotor impairment. Hypoxoside was able t o reduce the response to chemical pain stimuli, such as in the formali n and in the writhing test, whereas it did not change the pain respons e in the hot plate or in the tail flick test. These results indicate t hat hypoxoside exerts analgesic effects probably via an antiinflammato ry mechanism.