Objective: This study was intended to evaluate the phytochemical, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of 70% ethanolic extracts of Ardisia colorata in swiss albino mice and long evans rats. Methods: The ethanolic extract of A. colorata stem and leaves were used to determine the presence of phytoconstituents. The analgesic activity of the ethanolic extracts had been carried out by formalin induced hind paw licking responses at a dosage of 250 and 500 mg/kg by mouth (PO) using swiss albino mice. Ketorolac (1 mg/kg, orally), a clinically used analgesic, was used as standard analgesics. The ethanolic extracts were given at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg by mouth (PO) for testing their anti-inflammatory activity by carrageenan induced hind paw edema on long evans rats. Diclofenac Sodium (10 mg/kg, orally) was used as standard for anti-inflammatory study. Results: The phytochemical screening tests on all extracts showed the presence of a number of pharmacologically important phytochemicals with notably minor traces of flavonoids. The A. colorata stem 500 mg/kg dose showed an increase in % pain inhibition in the first phase (36.47%) as well as the late phase (35.09%) in the formalin induced hind paw licking responses of mice. The largest anti-inflammatory activity (13.46%) was shown between 3 and 4 hours by A. colorata stem at 250 mg/kg dose when compared to standard. Conclusions: The present study indicates that A. colorata stem has moderate analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. The other extract (A. colorata leaves) has insignificant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities.
