Evaluation of analgesic activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn.) in Wister rats

Abstract

Background: NSAIDs like Aspirin etc. are randomly used for mild to severe types of pain but long-term and injudicious use of NSAIDs lead to a number of side effects. The present study is designed for exploring the analgesic potential of Curcuma longa Linn (Turmeric) in albino rats, which may widen the therapeutic horizon for the said agent.Methods: Ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa in the doses 100, 200 and 400mg/kg is given orally to 6 Wister rats against a control of normal saline and a standard using Aspirin (300mg/kg) and the animals were subjected to Eddy’s hot plate test at different time intervals i.e., 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after administration of the drugs and the parameters were noted.Results: The analgesic activity of Curcuma longa showed significant (p<0.05) increase in mean basal reaction time in Hot plate method when compared to the control (Normal saline). As the dose of the ethanolic extract of Curcuma longa was gradually increased from 100, 200 and 400mg/kg respectively, the analgesic activity significantly increased (<0.05). Effect of curcuma longa at a dose of 400mg/kg is found to be comparable with Aspirin.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that turmeric (Curcuma longa) has significant analgesic activities in rats.