Aconitine-induced writhing as a method for assessing aspirin-like analgesic activity

A painful writhing syndrome is produced by aconitine when given intraperitoneally. It is similar to that induced by other chemical agent viz. phenylquinone, acetic acid, and bradykinin. Aconitine writhing is quick to appear, shows greater frequency and longer duration than that induced by other agents. The nonnarcotic analgesics more selectively antagonize the aconitine writhing than orally-administered narcotic analgesics. Thus the aconitine writhing method is a very suitable method for the selective screening of the aspirin type of analgesic agent.