ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECT OF SOME AMARYLLIDACEAE PLANTS IN MICE

The antinociceptive effects of ethanolic extracts of Pancratium mariti mum L., Narcissus tazetta subspecies tazetta and Leucojum aestivum L. bulbs have been investigated in mice using the p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction and hot-plate tests. In the p-benzoquinone-indu ced abdominal constriction test the ethanolic extracts of P. maritimum (300, 600 or 1200 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and N. tazetta subsp. tazetta (5, 50, 100 or 200 mg kg(-1), s.c.) caused dose-dependent inhibition of ab dominal constrictions whereas a fluctuating response was obtained from ethanolic extracts of L. aestivum (2.5-500 mg kg(-1), s.c.), In the h ot-plate test P. maritimum and L. aestivum caused a significant increa se of latency only at the highest concentrations used (1200 mg kg(-1) and 500 mg kg(-1), i.p., respectively). However, at these concentratio ns they also caused significant toxic effects. In contrast with P. mar itimum and L. aestivum, N. tazetta subsp. tazetta (5-500 mg kg(-1), i. p.) extracts had no antinociceptive effect in this test. These Finding s indicate that the antinociceptive effect of Amaryllidaceae plants di ffers depending on the model of nociception investigated.