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Background: Adverse side effects caused by NSAIDS and o th er existing allopathic analgesic agents
have m ade these drugs unw elcom ing to many. The search fo r alternative therapies has intensified
over th e years. Consequently, the investigations on th e efficacy o f plant based drugs used in
traditional m edicine has been seen as a fruitfu l research strategy in th e search fo r n ew analgesic
drugs due to possibly lesser side effects as w ell as th e low cost. Indigenous healers in Sri Lanka
prescribe an aqueous extract o f leaves o f Psychotriasarmentosa (nam ed "Gonica" in Sinhala;
Family: Rubiaceae) fo r individuals w ho have been physically assaulted, indicating th a t it may
possess p o tent analgesic an d /o r anti-inflam m atory activity. ;
O bjectives: Previous studies have shown th a t aqueous extract o f P. sarm entosa has significant
anti-in flam m ato ry activity and th e general objective o f th e present study was to determ ine! the
antinociceptive activity o f this preparation.
M etho d s: Acetic acid induced w rithing m ethod was conducted to evaluate th e analgesic activity
on m ale W istar rats. Data analysis was carried out using one-w ay analysis variance (ANOVA), and
results w ith p <0.05 w ere considered as statistically significant.
Results: The results showed th a t th e tre a tm e n t w ith 100 m g/kg o f freeze dried aqueous extract of
P. sarm entosa leaves significantly reduced th e abdom inal contractions induced by th e intraperitoneal adm in
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Conclusions: These prelim inary observations provide evidence fo r th e antinociceptive properties
o f leaves o f P. sarm entosa as claim ed in folk m edicine.
