Evaluation of antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of Strobilanthes cusia leaf extract in male mice and rats.

The leaf of Strobilanthes cusia (Acanthaceae), popularly known as Da-Ching-Yeh, has been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is used for influenza, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, encephalitis B, viral pneumonia and mumps. It is also used to treat sore throat, aphthae and inflammatory diseases with redness of skin, etc. In this study, we evaluated the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of methanol extract of Strobilanthes cusia leaf. The results showed that the extract significantly inhibited the writhing responses of mice and decreased the licking time on both the early and late phases of the formalin test in a dose-dependent manner. It also reduced the paw edema induced by carrageenan in rats. In addition, it potently attenuated pyrexia induced by lipopolysaccharide.