The present study was carried out to determine the antiinflammatory and antinociceptive activities of a methanol extract of Zingiber zerumbet rhizomes ( MEZZ) using various experimental model systems. Materials and Methods: The MEZZ was prepared by macerating oven-dried ( 50° C) powdered rhizomes ( 1.2 kg) of Z. zerumbet in 80% methanol in a ratio of 1: 20 ( w/ v) for 48 h. The supernatant was collected, filtered and evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure ( 50° C) yielding approximately 21.0 g of the crude dried extract. The crude dried extract was stored at – 20° C prior to use and was dissolved in normal saline ( 0.9% NaCl) immediately before administration at concentrations required to produce doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/ kg. Results: All dosages of MEZZ showed significant ( p < 0.05) antiedema activity when assessed using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test and the cotton-pellet-induced granuloma test. The MEZZ exhibited significant ( p < 0.05) antinociceptive activity when assessed by the writhing, hot plate and formalin tests. Pretreatment with naloxone ( 5 mg/ kg) significantly decreased the latency of discomfort produced by the 100 mg/ kg dose of MEZZ in the hot plate test. Conclusion: MEZZ produced antiinflammatory and antinociceptive activities which may involve the inhibition of bradykinin-, prostaglandin-, histamine- and opioid-mediated processes.

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