title: Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities of ethanolic calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. (Malvaceae) in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities of the ethanolic calyx extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn. in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, the dried calyxes of H. sabdariffa were subjected to extraction with 95% ethanol and the extract was used to investigate the possible activities. Antinociceptive activity of the extract was evaluated by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was tested by using the xylene-induced ear edema model mice. Castor oil-induced diarrheal model mice were used to evaluate the antidiarrheal activity of the extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract produced inhibited writhing in mice significantly compared with the blank control (P<0.01). The extract showed significant inhibition of ear edema formation in xylene-induced ear edema model mice in a dose-related manner compared with the blank control (P<0.01). The extract demonstrated a significant antidiarrheal activity against castor oil-induced diarrheal in mice in which it decreased the frequency of defecation and increased the mean latent period at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above mentioned findings indicate that the calyx extract of H. sabdariffa possesses significant antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal activities that support its uses in traditional medicine.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna-9208, Bangladesh. khadem_bge05@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Md Khadem
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Ayesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Nripendra Nath
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.forename: Utpal Kumar
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Karmakar
authors.forename: Shamima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afroz
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000930:Antidiarrheals; D010936:Plant Extracts