Background: Vitex negundo Linn (Family: Verbenaceae), locally known as ‘Nirgundi’ an important medicinal plant is a woody, aromatic shrub growing to a small tree. It commonly bears tri- or penta-foliate leaves on quadrangular branches, which give rise to bluish-purple coloured flowers in branched tomentose cymes. It has been claimed to possess analgesic activity apart from many medicinal properties. The aim of the present study was to evaluate both the peripheral and central analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of Vitex negundo flowers (EEVNF) in experimental animals.Methods: Acute toxicity test was done following the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines. EEVNF (100mg/kg, 200mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg body weight [b.w.] p.o) was evaluated for peripheral analgesic activity by the acetic acid (0.7%) induced writhing test and central analgesic activity by the tail flick method respectively using aspirin (100mg/kg b.w. and 300mg/kg b.w.) as the standard drug.Results: EEVNF significantly decreased the number of writhing in writhing test at all the doses (p<0.001) and increased the reaction time in tail-flick method (p<0.001) at all the doses when compared to control. EEVNF in the dosage of 400mg/kg b.w. produced analgesic effects which was comparable with that of the standard drug aspirin at dose 100mg/kg b.w in writhing test and produced greater analgesic activity than that of standard drug aspirin at dose 300mg/kg b.w in tail flick method.Conclusions: EEVNF has significant peripheral and central analgesic activity.

Introduction: Alpinia galanga Linn is a widely used medicinal plant. It is also known as Greater Galangal and belongs to family Zingiberaceae. The plant is a perennial rhizomatous herb and has been claimed to possess analgesic activity apart from many medicinal properties. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic activity of ethanolic extract of alpinia galanga rhizomes (EEAGR) in experimental animals. Methods: Acute toxicity test was done following the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines.100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg body weight [b.w] of ethanolic extract of alpinia galanga rhizomes was given orally to experimental animals.EEAGR was evaluated for central analgesic activity by using the tail flick method and peripheral analgesic activity by using the acetic acid induced writhing test using aspirin (300 mg/kg b.w and 100 mg/kg b.w orally) as the standard drug respectively. Results: EEAGR at 400mg/kg produced highly significant and greater analgesic activity than Aspirin (standard drug) in tail flick method. EEAGR at dose 400mg/kg has shown comparable reduction in mean total number of writhings which is equivalent to that of Aspirin (standard drug) in writhing test. Conclusion: EEAGR has significant central and peripheral analgesic activity.