INTRODUCTION: Toddalia asiatica is a commonly used medicinal plant in East Africa for the management of pain and inflammatory conditions.The present study investigated the antinociceptive and the anti-inflammatory effects of T.asiatica in Swiss albino mice.METHODS: The antinociceptive and the anti-inflammatory effects of T.asiatica were investigated using formalin-induced pain test Display port and the carrageenin-induced oedema paw.
The extract solvent (vehicle), aspirin and indomethacin were employed as negative and positive controls respectively.Eight mice were used in each experiment.RESULTS: In the early phase of the formalin test, the 100mg/kg dose showed no significant antinociceptive activity while the 200mg/kg showed significant (p 0.01) antinociceptive activity.The 100 mg/kg dose showed highly significant antinociceptive activity (p 0.
001) in the late phase of the formalin test while the 200mg/kg dose showed no significant antinociceptive activity.A reduction in carragenin induced acute inflammation paw oedema was significant (p 0.01) following administration of 100mg/kg dose but not with the 200mg/kg dose.CONCLUSION: The present study therefore lends support to Razor Blades the anecdotal evidence for use of T.asiatica in the management of painful and inflammatory conditions.