Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic studies of Neolamarckia cadamba barks

The methanol extract of Neolamarckia cadamba (Family: Rubiaceae) barks showed significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity. The acute toxicity, orally evaluated in mice, was found to be higher than 3000 mg/kg. The antinociceptive response using writhing and tail immersion test in mice were examined. The antiinflammatory activity using carrageenan and antipyretic activity in yeastinduced pyrexia in rats, were also examined. The extract at the doses 400 and 600 mg/kg significantly reduced the numbers of writhings induced by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid in mice. But the extract significantly exerted protective effects on heat-induced pain in mice at all tested doses (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg p.o.). The percentage inhibition of oedema due to injection of carrageenan was found to be in accordance with the doses tested. The extract showed significant effect on yeast-induced fever in rats at doses of 400 and 600 mg/kg and no promising results with 200 mg/kg dose level. Although these results provide a support for the traditional uses of N. cadamba barks, further studies are necessary to better evaluate its safety and modes of action.