Abstract

Effects of crude alkaloids extracted from the stem bark of Hunteria zeylanica Gard. (H. zeylanica) on nociceptive responses, capillary permeability, yeast-induced hyperthermia, pentobarbital-induced sleep, and spontaneous motor activity were investigated. Oral administration of 50 mg/kg H. zeylanica alkaloid extract significantly decreased the number of writhings induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid. The extract at 100-200 mg/kg significantly increased nociceptive threshold of the inflamed but not the non-inflamed paw in the Randall-Selitto test. Moreover, in the formalin test, the extract (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased licking activity in the late phase without affecting the activity in the early phase. However, the extract did not produce antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test, while it inhibited increase of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in the capillary permeability test. Moreover, the extract dose-dependently reduced yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats without affecting normothermia. It did not affect pentobarbital-induced sleep, but significantly increased locomotor activity at 100 mg/kg. These results suggest that H. zeylanica alkaloid extract possesses antinociceptive and antipyretic effects, and that the former effect may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory action.