Evaluation of Pain and Inflammation Protection Activities of Meloxicam in Chickens

T HIS study aimed to explore the pain and inflammation protective effects of meloxicam in chickens. Methods : The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) and median effective analgesic dose (ED 50 ) of intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered meloxicam were determined using an up-and-down technique. Drug safety indices based on the collected results. The dose-dependent analgesic efficacy of meloxicam in chicks was determined by electrical stimulation. The formalin test was used to validate the pain and inflammation protective properties. Results : The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) was 156.5 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The median effective analgesic dose (ED 50 ) of meloxicam in chicks was 8.25 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Meloxicam’s therapeutic index, standard safety margin, and therapeutic ratio when administered intraperitoneally, were 20, 0.4, and 6.7, respectively. Meloxicam’s dose-dependent analgesic effect at 8 mg/kg and 16 mg/kg ip began 0.5 h after treatment and persisted for more than 4 hours. The analgesic effect of meloxicam peaked 2 h after intraperitoneal administration. Meloxicam induced a substantial increase in the latency to raise the right foot in the formalin test when compared to the control value, as well as a significant decrease in foot lifting frequency. The foot thickness decreased significantly compared to the control value. Conclusion : These findings indicate that meloxicam has pain and inflammation protective properties, which will serve as the foundation for future pharmacological investigations, and that this medicine may be safely administered to chickens.