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Anti-pyretic, Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Urtica dioica (L.) in Albino Mice

Safari VZ, Ngugi MP, Orinda G and Njagi EM

Urtica dioica has been used to manage several diseases including pain, inflammation and fever. However, its efficacy has not been scientifically validated. The aim of this study therefore is to investigate the analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activities of its aqueous extracts. The plant extract was collected from Loita division, Narok County in Kenya. A total of 96 albino mice with an average weight of 20 g were used for this study. Analgesic activity was determined by use of formalin−induced writhing test. A writhe was recorded by a stopwatch following the stretching of the abdomen and/or stretching of at least one hind limb. Anti-inflammatory activity was established by a formalin induced inflammation test. Hourly changes in paw sizes and reduction of edema around the paw was determined using a venier calipers. Antipyretic activity was carried out using Brewer’s yeast induced pyrexia. Temperature of each mouse was determined rectally by thermal probe thermometer. The aqueous leaf extracts of Urtica dioica reduced pain, inflammation and fever mostly at dose 150 mg/kg body weight. Based on these findings it was concluded that the present study has demonstrated the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic potential of aqueous leaf extracts of Urtica dioica in albino mice and will serve as good bio-resource for generating readily available herbal formulations that are more effective in the treatment of pain, inflammation and fever conditions which are cheaper than the conventional synthetic drugs and have no side effects.