Essential Oil ofAlpinia calcarataRosc. Rhizome: Heals Inflammation and Nociception in Animal models

Essential oil of Alpinia calcarata Rosc. rhizome was studied for anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects in animal models. Anti-inflammatory effect was investigated in carrageenan-induced paw edema model in Albino rat with the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg BW. Anti-nociceptive effect was measured in acetic acid-induced pain, formalin-induced pain and thermal pain (hot plate test) models in Albino mice with the doses of 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg BW. Significant (p<0.05) inhibition (63.82 ± 1.27%) of paw edema compared to diclofenac sodium was achieved by 200 mg/kg of essential oil. Nociception in acetic acid-induced writhing model and pain in formalin-induced model were also reduced by essential oil (400 mg/kg) significantly compared to reference drugs diclofenac sodium and morphine, respectively. Essential oil (400 mg/kg) reduced the thermal pain in early and late phases of hot plate model significantly compared to morphine. Maximum possible effect (%MPE) for essential oil was achieved by 600 mg/kg at the 60th min of treatment in hot plate model. Results evidenced that essential oil from Alpinia calcarata could be processed to use as an alternative source of inflammatory and nociceptive treatment.