Antinociceptive, Anti-inflammatory and Antipyretic Effects of Solanum nigrum Chloroform Extract in Animal Models

AIM: The present study was carried out to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of chloroform extract of Solanum nigrum leaves using various animal models. METHODS: The extract was prepared by soaking (1:20; w/v) the air-dried powdered leaves (20g) in chloroform for 72 hrs followed by evaporation (40℃) under reduced pressure to dryness (1.26g) and then dissolved (1:50; w/v) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The supernatant, considered as the stock solution with dose of 200mg/kg, was diluted using DMSO to 20 and 100mg/kg, and all doses were administered (s.c.; 10ml/kg) in mice/rats 30 min prior to tests. RESULTS: The extract exhibited significant (p<0.05) antinociceptive activity when assessed using the abdominal constriction, hot plate and formalin tests. The extract also produced significant (p<0.05) anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities when assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema and brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia tests. Overall, the activities occurred in a dose-independent manner. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that the lipid-soluble extract of S. nigrum leaves possessed antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic properties and confirmed the traditional claims.