ObjectiveTo assess the analgesic and anti–inflammatory properties of the crude petroleum ether and ether extracts of Narcine brunnea. MethodsThe homogenized flesh was extracted exhaustively in a soxhlet apparatus separately with petroleum ether and ether. The Chemical analysis of petroleum ether and ether extracts was carried out by UV-VIS spectrophotometer, FT-IR and GC-MS. The analgesic and anti–inflammatory properties of the crude extract was assessed by hot plate, Haffner's tail clip and carrageenan induced rat paw oedema methods in animal models. ResultsThe GC-MS and EIMS revealed five compounds viz. 3, 5-dihydroxy phenyl acetic acid, phtha1ic acid, N-methyl 2, 3-dihydro 3-but-2-enyl indole 5-sulphonic acid, 2-methoxy serotonin sulphate and 3-but-2 enyl-indole-5-sulphonic acid. The results (mean±SE) of hot plate showed that the crude petroleum ether and ether extracts exhibited increase in basal reaction time from 2.150±0.043 and 2.300±0.058 at 0 min to 6.102±0.037 and 8.783±0.070 at 120 min respectively. The tail clip method revealed a well marked increase in basal reaction time of 6.817±0.031 in petroleum ether and 8.852±0.043 in ether extract at 120 min. The crude petroleum ether inhibited the oedema volume of 51% with a mean oedema volume of 3.465±0.022 at 4h, where as the crude ether extract produced to the extent of 56% inhibition of oedema volume with a mean 3.363±0.023 at 4 h. ConclusionsThis study confirmed the analgesic and anti–inflammatory properties of Narcine brunnea observed during the ethno-pharmacological survey. In order to go towards a valuation of this traditional knowledge, further studies like purification, isolation and NMR must be carried out to determine which of these compounds are actually responsible for such properties.