Background: The objective was to evaluate the analgesic activity of irbesartan in albino mice. Methods: Swiss albino mice weighing 25-30 g of either sex were selected for the study. Six animals were allocated to each experimental group. The control group received normal saline (25 ml/kg, p.o.), standard group received pentazocine (10mg/kg, intraperitonial [i.p.]) and test group received irbesartan (20 mg/kg, p.o.). The above drugs were administered 1 hr prior to the experiments. In case of visceral pain model 0.6% acetic acid was given i.p. 30 mins prior to the experiment to induce writhing, in thermal pain model pretreated mice were placed on Eddy’s Hotplate maintained at 55°C and in mechanical stimulus pain model an artery clip was clamped at the base of the tail of pretreated mice. Decrease in total number of writhes in acetic acid induced writhing model and delay in reaction time in both Eddy’s hot plate and Tail clip method denoted analgesic activity respectively. Results: The test drug significantly decreased the total number of writhes in acetic acid induced writhing model in mice. The percentage inhibition of writhing was significant which was 84.35% in the standard group and 59.24% in the test group. The test drug significantly delayed the reaction time in both Eddy’s hot plate and tail clip method when compared to control group and standard group. Percentage increase in latency period when compared to standard drug was significant and measured 73.11% and 64.31% at 60 min in both Eddy’s hot plate and tail clip method, respectively. Conclusion: Irbesartan exhibits analgesic activity in albino mice.
