Anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity and acute toxicity of Sida cordifolia L. (Malva-branca)

Sida cordifolia L. (Malvaceae) is used in folk medicine for the treatment o f inflammation of the oral mucosa, blenorrhea, asthmatic bronchitis and nas al congestion. The anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects and acute toxicity of an aqueous extract of S. cordifolia were evaluated in animal models. The extract was prepared using leaves collected before the flowering period. T he aqueous extract (AE) showed a significant inhibition of carrageenin-indu ced rat paw edema at a dose of 400 mg/kg administered orally, but did not b lock the edema induced by arachidonic acid. The AE also increased the laten cy period for mice in the hot plate test, and inhibited the number of writh es produced by acetic acid at the oral dose of 400 mg/kg. The aqueous extra ct of S. cordifolia showed low acute toxicity in mice. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.