Antinociceptive, Antipyretic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Natural Betaine

Abstract

Natural betaine is a natural amino acid derivative (trimethylglycine) that is found in beet molasses and their residues. Phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties of betaine have been tested in this study. Ninety mice were used to study betaine toxicity and analgesic activity. Fifty mice were distributed into five groups of ten mice to be used in the toxicological study while forty animals were distributed into four groups of ten mice each during the analgesic study. Forty-eight rats were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of betaine. Rats were distributed into four groups of six animals each during both experiments. The anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced paw edema), antipyretic (Brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia), and analgesic (chemical and thermal-induced pain) actions of betaine have been studied. The results indicated that natural betaine has an oral LD50 of 5800mg\kg. Rats treated with betaine (100 or 200 mg/kg orally) exhibited a significant reduction in rats' paws thickness compared to the control group. The hyperthermia model and the analgesic model demonstrated good antipyretic and analgesic actions of betaine compared to the standard groups. These findings suggest that oral administration of natural betaine had significant anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in rats in addition to antinociceptive activity in mice.