Analgesic and antipyretic effects of Capparis zeylanica leaves.

The ethanol and water extracts of Capparis zeylanica leaves showed dose-dependent and significant (P<0.05) increases in pain threshold in tail-immersion test. Moreover, both the extracts (100-200 mg/kg) exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of writhing and also showed a significant (P<0.001) inhibition of both phases of the formalin pain test. The water extract (200 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.01) reversed yeast-induced fever. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, proteins and carbohydrates.