Screening in mice of some medicinal plants used for analgesic purposes in the state of São Paulo.

Twelve medicinal plants used popularly for their reputed analgesic properties were tested in mice by the writhing and tail-flick methods. All extractions were made using 50% aqueous ethanol at low temperatures. The oral dose administered was always 1 g solids/kg. While several extracts showed a positive effect in one of the tests, significant effects in both tests were produced by Serjania communis only. Morphine and acetylsalicylic acid were used as reference drugs.