Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Vochysia ferruginea

Anti-inflammatory activity of a methanol extract of the leaves of Vochysia ferruginea Mart. (Vochysiaceae) was determined in the rat paw edema test. At doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, i.p., the extract reduced edema significantly (p < 0.01) compared with indomethacin (10 mg/kg). It also showed significant dose-dependent analgesic activity (0.3–100 mg/kg) in mice (p < 0.05), compared with acetaminophen (130 mg/kg), and inhibitory activity with cyclooxygenase (COX-1) (72% at 70 mg/ml), compared with indomethacin (2.3 mM). An ulcerogenic effect was observed when the extract was administered to rats.