Analgesic and antiinflammatory activities ofJusticia pectoralis Jacq and its main constituents: coumarin and umbelliferone

Abstract

The hydroalcohol extract of J. pectoralis (EHA) and its main constituents, coumarin (CM) and umbelliferone (UMB), were studied for possible analgesic and antioedema activities on acetic acid induced writhing in mice and on the carrageenan and dextran paw oedema in rats. The EHA, CM and UMB demonstrated antinociceptive effects, and pretreatment with naloxone did not reverse the antinociception, indicating that the opioid system is not involved. On the other hand, pretreatment with Lβ-arginine reversed the antinociception caused by UMB, suggesting the involvement of the nitric oxide system. The EHA, CM and UMB presented a significant antioedema effect in the carrageenan model but only CM decreased the rat paw volume in the dextran model, and this effect was not observed with EHA or UMB. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.