Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens root in rodents.

The effect of methanolic extract of Asparagus pubescens was investigated on chemical, thermal-induced pain as well as fresh egg albumin-induced inflammation and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsion in rodents. The extract dose-dependently (0.25-1.5 g/kg) inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain licking and hot plate-induced pain in mice. The extract significantly inhibited both the fresh egg albumin-induced inflammation in rats as well as PTZ-induced convulsion in mice. These inhibitions were statistically significant (P < 0.02-0.001). It increased the latencies of both clonic and tonic convulsions and delayed their mortalities. Its ability to reduce both neurogenic and non-neurogenic pains may be related to its active constituents such as tannins, saponins, steroid and flavonoids. Copyright 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.