MITIGATION OF PAIN AND INFLAMMATION-INDUCED IN MICE AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CRUDE HYDROALCOHOLIC EXTRACT DE BEGONIA CUCULLATA WILLD. (BEGONIACEAE)

Begonia cucullata Willd. (Begoniaceae) is a native medicinal species from Paraguay popularly used to combat stomatitis, pharyngitis, respiratory ailments in children, and inflammatory conditions among others. The limited literature did not report these plants as having analgesic, anti-inflammatory, or antimicrobial properties. This work aims to determine the acute toxicity, general behavior, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities in mice and antimicrobial activity in-vitro of crude extract of B. cucullata (CEBc). Experimental induced-pain models (Randall-Selitto, Writhing, and Hot plate test) were used for the study of analgesia in mice. Likewise, carrageenan-induced paw edema was used to evaluate the anti-edematous activity of CEBc. CEBc is safe, well-tolerated, and without behavioral effects in mice and is devoid of antibacterial activity. Using the Randall-Selitto method, oral doses of CEBc denoted a significant increment in the pain threshold up to 260 %. Also, in the writhing test, the number of abdominal contortions was significantly decreased up to 68% by CEBc in a dose-dependent manner in comparison to the control group. Likewise, oral administration of CEBc in mice presented a 160% increase in latency periods in the hot plate test. Moreover, a 63% reduction in carrageenan-induced paw edema was observed with CEBc treatment. Finally, the presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids, and/or triterpenes was identified in the CEBc. Based on the results, it is concluded that CEBc has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory capacity in mice treated orally. These experimental results correlate with popular use in Paraguay and have huge potential for innovation and development.