title: Evaluation of antinociceptive effect of Petiveria alliacea (Guiné) in animals.
abstract: Petiveria alliacea (Phytolaccaceae) is a bush widely distributed in South America including Brazil, where it is popularly known as "guiné", "pipi", "tipi" or "erva-de-tipi". Brazilian folk medicine attributes to the hot water infusion of its roots or leaves the following pharmacological properties: antipyretic, antispasmodic, abortifacient, antirrheumatic, diuretic, analgesic and sedative. The present study has evaluated the alleged effects of P. alliacea on central nervous system (CNS), particularly, the sedative and analgesic properties of root crude aqueous extract of this plant in mice and rats. This extract showed an antinociceptive effect in acetic acid--acetylcholine--and hypertonic saline--induced abdominal constrictions, but not in hot-plate and tail flick tests. P. alliacea did not produce any CNS depressor effect. Thus its antinociceptive action in animals can be responsible by its popular use as an analgesic.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brasil.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Morato
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010936:Plant Extracts