Evaluation of Antinociceptive Activity of Berberis Vulgaris L. Fruit’s Hydroethanolic Extract in Male Mice

Herbal medicine has an old history with a broad application all over the world. Many researches have focused on the curative as well as antinociceptive effects of herbal extract. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of Berberis vulgaris hydroethanolic extract (BVE) in male mice. 30 male mice were divided into 5 groups: control, treated by morphine, treated by BVE (150 & 300 mg/kg) and naloxane plus BVE (300 mg/kg) randomly. To assess the antinociceptive effects of BVE, The animals were examined by employing different pain models such as, tail-flick tests (for acute pain) and acetic acid-induced writhing (for chronic pain) after treatment with morphine, naloxane and BVE. The results indicate that the BVE showed an important antinociceptive effect at 150 and 300 mg/kg (PBerberis vulgaris hydroethanolic extract. We suggest that this effect is may be caused by anti-inflammatory effect and the stimulation of the opioid receptors.