title: Antinociceptive activity of the methanolic extract of Kaempferia galanga Linn. in experimental animals.
abstract: Kaempferia galanga Linn. (Zingiberaceae) presents many chemical constituents of the volatile oil extracted from the rhizome. The rhizome of Kaempferia galanga is used by people in many regions for relieving toothache, abdominal pain, muscular swelling and rheumatism. In this study we investigated the antinociceptive activity in mice and rats using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, hot plate and tail-flick tests. The extract at test doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o. clearly demonstrated antinociceptive activity in all tests. This activity was dose- and time-dependent. The extract administered at 200 mg/kg, p.o. had a stronger antinociceptive effect than aspirin (100 mg/kg, p.o.) but less than morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.). Naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the antinociceptive action of both morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and the extract (200 mg/kg, p.o.) in a similar manner. In conclusion, the methanol extract of Kaempferia galanga markedly demonstrated the antinociceptive action in experimental animals. The antinociceptive mechanisms appear to be both peripherally and centrally mediated actions and the opioid receptors are probably involved. Therefore, our studies support the use in traditional medicine of Kaempferia galanga against pain caused by various disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand. wibool.r@psu.ac.th
authors.forename: Wibool
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ridtitid
authors.forename: Chutha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sae-Wong
authors.forename: Wantana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reanmongkol
authors.forename: Malinee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wongnawa
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027343:Rhizome; D013997:Time Factors; D030521:Zingiberaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009020:Morphine; D001241:Aspirin