Analgesic and cytotoxic activities of Sida rhombifolia Linn.

The ethanol extract of dried aerial part of Sida rhombifolia Linn. (Family - Malvaceae) was investigated for its possible analgesic and cytotoxic activities in animal models. The extract produced significant (P<0.001) writhing inhibition in acetic acid-induced writhing in mice at the oral dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg of body weight comparable to the standard drug diclofenac sodium at the dose of 25 mg/kg of body weight. The crude ethanolic extract also produced the most prominent cytotoxic activity against brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC₅₀ = 40 μg/ml and LC₉₀ = 80 μg/ml). The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and its further investigation.