Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the aqueous extract of <i>Geranium carolinianum L</i>

Abstract

Background: Geranium carolinianum L. (Geraniaceae) is widely used for a variety of diseases including herpetic keratitis, eczema, rheumatalgia etc. However, there is lack of relevant scientific research. Materials and Methods: GCE (125, 250, 500mg/kg body weight) was evaluated for its pharmacological properties by using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the hot plate test and the fresh egg white-induced paw edema in rats. The dimethylbenzene-induced mouse inflammation model and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat fever model were employed and the acute toxicity of GCE was also assessed. Results: The Geranium carolinianum aqueous extract (GCE) significantly inhibited the writhing responses in mice, increased reaction time of mice in the hot plate test, and suppressed the fresh egg white-induced paw edema in rats and the dimethylbenzene-induced ear edema in mice whilst attenuating LPS-induced fever in rats in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, no deaths were observed when mice were orally administered GCE up to 14 g/kg body weight (approximately 553 times of clinical dose). Conclusions: GCE possesses analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities and is non-toxic at the doses used. The results of this study support the clinical use and effectiveness of Geranium carolinianum as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic agent in folk medicine.