Introduction: Maytenus macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Briq (chuchuhuasi) is a Peruvian medicinal plant which has been attributed anti dysenteric, antidiarrheal, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, among others. Objective: explore the central analgesic activity of M. macrocarpa leaves in mice using the tail-flick model. Methods: fifty albino mice (25 g average weight) were divided into 5 groups and administered the following substances by oral route: M. macrocarpa 1 000 and 1 500 mg/kg, Tramadol 10 mg/kg, distilled water (placebo) 0.1 mL/10 g, and a control group. Pain was evaluated by estimating the average latency period after taking 6 measurements at 30 minute intervals. Percent maximum possible effect (% MPE) was also determined. Results: baseline time for chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg was 2.781 seconds vs. 4.135 seconds at 120 minutes. Baseline time for chuchuhuasi 1 500 mg/kg was 2.467 seconds vs. 4.385 seconds at 180 minutes; p value vs. control was p> 0.05. Baseline time for Tramadol was 2.030 seconds vs. 5.173 seconds at 30 minutes; p value vs. control was p> 0.05. The placebo group was not significant. % MPE was 19 % for chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg, 14 % for chuchuhuasi 1 500 mg/kg and 37 % for Tramadol. Conclusion: the central analgesic effect of M. macrocarpa leaves on the tail-flick model was not significant. Percent maximum possible effect was 19 % with chuchuhuasi 1 000 mg/kg.