Antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Calliandra umbellifera Benth

The genus, Calliandra is popularly used for renal pain, cystitis, prostate inflammation, fever and toothache. This study aimed at investigating the antinociceptive activity of methanolic crude extract (MCE) of Calliandra umbellifera, regarding chemical (acetic acid, formalin and glutamate tests) of nociception (in vivo) and the methanolic extract and hidrobutanolic phase (HBF) antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picril-hidrazil (DPPH) method, besides determination of the content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids (in vitro). The pre-treatment with the MCE (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg, p.o) was able to reduce the number of abdominal contortions (p<0.01 or p<0.001), the licking times in the formalin (p<0.001) and the glutamate tests (p<0.01), respectively. In the antioxidant assay, the extract showed optimum EC50 and higher flavonoid content as compared to the hydrobutanolic fraction; however, the content of the obtained phenolic compounds were higher in HBF as compared to MCE. The experimental data showed that C. umbellifera has an antinociceptive activity, a good antioxidant activity and high levels of phenolic compounds, which confirms the popular use of Calliandra, contributing to the scientific knowledge of the species. Key words: Calliandra umbellifera, antinociceptive activity, antioxidant, total phenol, flavonoids, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picril-hidrazil (DPPH).