ANALGESIC PROPERTIES OF A HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT OBTAINED FROM ALTERNANTHERA-BRASILIANA

The present study describes the analgesic effects of the hydroalcoholi c extract (HE) obtained from the aerial parts of Alternanthera brasili ana in two models of pain in mice. Such an extract, given intraperiton eally or orally produced significant and long-lasting (0.5-4 h) antino ciception when evaluated against acetic acid-induced abdominal constri ctions. In the formalin test, the HE inhibited both the first and seco nd phases of formalin-induced pain. Furthermore, the HE was more poten t than some standard drugs, such as aspirin, indomethacin and dipyrone , when evaluated against acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, These results suggest a strong analgesic effect for HE, possibly relat ed to the presence of sterols, terpenes and phenolic compounds, confir ming the popular use of A. brasiliana against dolorous processes. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.