The chloroform extract of dried leaves of Trichilia connaroides, was screened for analgesic and antiinflammatory activity, using chemical-, thermal- and formalin-induced inflammation in Swiss mice and Wistar rats. Chloroform extract showed significant and dose- dependent analgesic, and antiinflammatory activity.

Trichilia is a genus of trees, widely distributed in south east of Asia. Trichilia connaroides (W. & A.), Bentilezen, belonging to family Meliaceae, is known as karai or karaivilangu in Tamil. It is abundant in moist forests throughout the greater part of India. Phytochemical screening of leaves have been reported by several authors, like isolation of two tetracyclic triterpenoids having a 9,19-cyclopropane ring, and two new tetranoterpenoids-trijugin A and B, from chloroform extract 1-3 . The bark and leaves possess bitter and tonic properties 4 . Chloroform and methanol extract produced significant fall in cholesterol level within 24 hours, in Triton-induced hypercholesterolemia, when compared to control group 5 , and also produced significant hypotensive effect in rats (unpublished data). However, literature review did not reveal screening for analgesic and antiinflammatory activities. The present study is to assess such activity of a chloroform extract using conventional animal models.