Further studies on the antinociceptive action of aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta.

This study presents the results of further investigations on the antinociceptive profiles of an aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta in rodents. The antinociceptive activity of the intraperitonal doses of 25-100 mg/kg of Aframomum melegueta was assessed using the formalin-induced paw licking, Randall-Selitto paw pressure and hot plate models of pain. The extract was found to produce a significant dose-dependent inhibition of the inflammatory but not the neurogenic pains associated with the formalin test. In the Randall-Sellito paw pressure test, the extract significantly reduced the nociceptive responses elicited by compression of inflamed hind paw of rats in a dose-related manner. However, Aframomum melegueta did not alter the pain threshold in non-inflamed paw and also failed to prolong the reaction time of the animals to noxious heat in the hot plate test. Taken together, these findings suggest that the aqueous seed extract of Aframomum melegueta possess peripheral analgesic activity.