Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities of ethanolic calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (Malvaceae) in mice.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities of the ethanolic calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. in mice.

METHODS

In the present study, the dried calyxes of H. sabdariffa were subjected to extraction with 95% ethanol and the extract was used to investigate the possible activities. Antinociceptive activity of the extract was evaluated by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was tested by using the xylene-induced ear edema model mice. Castor oil-induced diarrheal model mice were used to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of the extract.

RESULTS

In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract produced inhibited writhing in mice significantly compared with the blank control (P<0.01). The extract showed significant inhibition of ear edema formation in xylene-induced ear edema model mice in a dose-related manner compared with the blank control (P<0.01). The extract demonstrated a significant antidiarrheal activity against castor oil-induced diarrheal in mice in which it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The above mentioned findings indicate that the calyx extract of H. sabdariffa possesses significant antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities that support its uses in traditional medicine.