Wantana Reanmongkol and Chatchai Wattanapiromsakul

pp. 739 - 745

Abstract

The effects of the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana Linn. (G. mangostana) on nociceptive response using writhing and hot plate tests in mice and the antipyretic activity in yeastinduced fever in rats, were examined. Anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats was also investigated. The ethanol extract (400, 800 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly suppressed the writhings induced by acetic acid. The dichloromethane extract (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg, p.o.) also decreased acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Neither the ethanol extract nor dichloromethane extract had significant effects on antinociceptive response in the hot plate test. No significant effects on yeast-induced fever were observed after oral administration of the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts in rats. Either oral administration (800 mg/kg) of the ethanol extract or dichloromethane extract significantly decreased the rat paw edema induced by carrageenin. These results suggest that the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts from the fruit hull of G. mangostana possess analgesic and anti-inflammatory actions but no antipyretic action and one mechanism of action of the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts may involve in cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition.