Ethnopharmacological studies on allspice (Pimenta dioica) in laboratory animals

Abstract

An aqueous suspension of allspice, Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. (Myrtaceae), has been studied for antiinflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, gastric antiulcer, and cytoprotective activities in experimental models. The suspension produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema, cotton pellet granuloma in rats, a significant inhibition of acetic acid-induced writhing and tail flick reaction time and reduction of yeast-induced hyperpyrexia in mice. The suspension also showed antiulcer and cytoprotective activity by protecting gastric mucosa against indomethacin and various necrotizing agents including 80% ethanol, 0.2 M NaOH and 25% NaCl in rats. The allspice suspension also increased the gastric wall mucus in rats. Acute toxicity studies showed neither mortality nor adverse effects up to a dose of 7.5 g/kg in mice.