Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activity of petroleum ether extract of Beta vulgaris in mice. Acute toxicity study was carried out in Swiss albino mice. Antinociceptive activity of petroleum-ether extract of Beta vulgaris was evaluated by well established models like acetic acid induced writhing, formalin test and tail immersion method in mice. The acute anti-inflammatory effect was studied by carrageenan induced hind paw edema method in rats. Acute toxicity study showed that the extract was non-toxic upto a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. Petroleum-ether extract of Beta vulgaris exhibited significant inhibition of acetic acid induced writhing, reduced the paw-licking response time significantly in formalin test and increased the withdrawal latency time in tail immersion test. Carrageenan induced hind paw edema was significantly reduced in rats. The present study indicates that the petroleum-ether extract of Beta vulgaris has potential antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity.