Acetic acid and phenylquinone writhing test: a critical study in mice.

Studies were planned to establish the dose-effect relationship with both acetic acid and phenylquinone and to find out suitable concentrations for these two chemicals for pre- and post screening. The LD50 of acetic acid and phenylquinone were found to be 3.16% and 0.23%, respectively. Based on the studies conducted, the prescreening and postscreening concentrations of 0.5% is recommended for acetic acid, while for phenylquinone, prescreening concentration of 0.005% and postscreening concentration of 0.02% is advocated. Using this criterion in the acetic acid writhing test, analgin was the most potent analgesic while aspirin was the least. However, suprofen was most potent and paracetamol least among analgesics employed against phenylquinone induced writhing.