Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Biebersteinia multifida DC. root extract

The root of Biebersteinia multifida DC (Geraniaceae), a native plant of Iran, has been used topically for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders as a folk medicine. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the root extract were studied using carrageenan induced edema and formalin tests. A similar activity was seen between Biebersteinia multifida root extract (10 mg/kg; i.p.) and indomethacin (4 mg/kg; i.p.) in carrageenan test. The results of formalin test showed the analgesic activity of the root extract (50 mg/kg; i.p.) was comparable with morphine (10 mg/kg; i.p.) at the first phase of formalin test. Furthermore, the probable ulcerogenic activity of the root extract was also studied. The extract did not show any ulcerogenic effect at anti-inflammatory doses (10 mg/kg; p.o.).     

Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra. Extract exhibits antiinflammatory activity in the rat

The aim of the present study was to explore the probable antiinflammatory effect of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra. in a rat model of carrageenan induced inflammation. Male Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with 0.4% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) (as control group) and H. triquetrifolium extract (25, 50, 60 mg/kg), 30 min before 0.1 ml 1% carrageenan injection. Paw volume was measured before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after the injection of carrageenan. The results are expressed as the mean±s.e. mean and the statistical significance of differences between groups was analyzed by One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The intraplantar injection of carrageenan caused a time-dependent paw edema in the rat although saline injection caused no swelling. Intraperitoneal administration of H. triquetrifolium extract (25, 50, 60 mg/kg) inhibited paw swelling dose-dependently at 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 h after carrageenan injection (P<0.05). We can conclude that H. triquetrifolium extract may exert an antiinflammatory effect in rats.     

Antiinflammatory and antiulcer properties of tannins from Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (Anacardiaceae) in rodents

Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão is a plant utilized in Northeast Brazil as an antiinflammatory, wound healing and in gynecological illnesses. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the antiinflammatory and antiulcer properties of the tannin‐enriched fraction (TEF) isolated from the stem bark of M. urundeuva, in the formalin test, in mice, and in carrageenan‐induced paw edema and gastric ulcer models, in rats. The results showed that TEF dose‐dependently inhibited both phases of the formalin test. However, the effect was predominant in the 2nd phase of the response where inhibitions of 47%, 76% and 85% were observed, with doses of 5, 10 and 50 mg/kg, i.p. In the carrageenan‐induced paw edema, significant inhibitions were observed at 3 h (44%) and 4 h (28%), with a dose of 10 mg/kg, i.p. TEF also significantly decreased by 37%, 43% and 57% gastric ulceration induced by indomethacin, at doses of 10, 20 and 50 mg/kg p.o. In the ethanol‐induced gastric ulcer model, TEF was less effective, and significant inhibitions (42% to 46%) were observed only with doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o., respectively. In conclusion, it was shown that TEF presents antiinflammatory and antiulcer effects, partly due to its antioxidant action, known to be present in polyphenols, including tannins. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Retama raetam on lipid metabolism in normal and recent-onset diabetic rats

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of single and repeated oral administration of the aqueous extract of Retama raetam (Forssk) Webb (RR) (20 mg/kg) on lipid metabolism in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, the aqueous extract of RR induced a significant decrease of the plasma triglycerides concentrations one week after repeated oral administration (P<0.05). This reduction was maintained two weeks after once daily repeated oral administration (P<0.05). A significant decrease of plasma cholesterol levels was also observed one week (P<0.05) and two weeks (0.05) after repeated oral administration.

In diabetic rats, RR treatment caused a significant decrease of plasma triglycerides levels after a single (P<0.05) and repeated (P<0.001) oral administration. A significant decrease of cholesterol levels was observed four hours after a single oral administration of the RR aqueous extract (P<0.05). One week after repeated oral administration of RR aqueous extract, the plasma cholesterol levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05) and still dropped after two weeks (P<0.005).

On the other hand, the repeated oral administration of RR aqueous extract caused a significant decrease of body weight one week after repeated oral treatment in diabetic rats (P<0.05). We conclude that the aqueous extract of RR exhibits lipid and body weight lowering activities in both normal and severe hyperglycemic rats after repeated oral administration of RR aqueous extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg.     

Evaluation of antinociceptive,antinflammatory activities and phytochemical analysis of aerial parts of Urtica urens L.

The antinociceptive and antiinflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Urtica urens were determined by experimental animal models. U. urens extract was found to possess significant antinociceptive activity in chemically induced mouse pain models (ED₅₀ 39.3 mg/kg: 17.2–74.5 mg/kg) in the writhing test and 62.8% inhibition of the licking time in the late phase of the formalin test at a dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. and antiinflammatory activity on carrageenan‐induced rat hind paw edema (41.5% inhibition at a dose of 300 mg/kg i.p.). The extract displayed activity neither in the thermal model of pain nor in the topical inflammation model. The major component of the extract was determined as chlorogenic acid (670 mg/1000 g dry weight) and could be partly responsible for this activity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of an aqueous extract of Triticum repens on lipid metabolism in normal and recent-onset diabetic rats

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effects of single and repeated oral administration of the aqueous rhizomes extract of Triticum repens (TR) (20 mg/kg) on lipid metabolism in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In normal rats, the aqueous extract of TR induced a significant decrease in the plasma triglycerides concentrations 4 days (P<0.05) and 1 week after repeated oral administration (P<0.05). This reduction was abolished 2 weeks after once daily repeated oral administration. A significant decrease of plasma cholesterol levels was observed only 1 week (P<0.05) after repeated oral administration.

In diabetic rats, TR treatment caused a significant decrease in plasma triglycerides levels after a single (P<0.01) and repeated (P<0.001) oral administration. A strong decrease in cholesterol level was observed 6 h after a single oral administration of the aqueous extract TR (P<0.001). Four days after repeated oral administration of TR aqueous extract, the plasma cholesterol level was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and still dropped after 2 weeks (P<0.001).

On other hand, the repeated oral administration of aqueous TR extract caused a significant decrease in body weight 2 weeks after repeated oral treatment in diabetic rats (P<0.05).

We conclude that the aqueous extract of TR exhibits lipid and body weight lowering activities in severe hyperglycaemic rats after repeated oral administration of aqueous TR extract at a dose of 20 mg/kg.     

Investigation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Lantana trifolia

The anti-inflammatory activity of Lantana trifolia (Verbenaceae) was determined by carrageenan, serotonin and histamine-induced rat paw edema and the analgesic activity of this plant was studied by acetic acid-induced writhings and tail flick tests in mice. Lantana trifolia extracts (at 30 mg/kg) inhibited carrageenan and histamine-induced rat paw edema. Although the extracts did not produce any effect on acetic acid-induced writhings, they all develop a significant increase on tail flick antinociceptive index (doses varying between 1 and 30 mg/kg), indicating a spinal antinociceptive effect. These results provide support for the use of Lantana trifolia in relieving inflammatory pain.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Satureja hortensis L. extracts and essential oil

Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in Iranian folk medicine as muscle and bone pain reliever. In the present study, hydroalcoholic extract, polyphenolic fraction and essential oil of the aerial parts of the herb were prepared and evaluated for the analgesic activity using light tail flick, formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. Also, the anti-inflammatory effects of the above-mentioned preparations were assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. Results showed that in the light tail flick test neither the essential oil nor the extracts could exert any significant effect. The hydroalcoholic extract (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (200 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the mice writhing responses caused by acetic acid. In formalin test, hydroalcoholic extract (500-2000 mg/kg, p.o.), polyphenolic fraction (250-1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (50-200 mg/kg, p.o.) showed analgesic activity and pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) or caffeine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) failed to reverse this antinociceptive activity. Polyphenolic fraction (1000 mg/kg, p.o.) and the essential oil (200 mg/kg) reduced edema caused by carrageenan. These results suggest that S. hortensis L. has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects and probably mechanism(s) other than involvement of opioid and adenosine receptors mediate(s) the antinociception.     

Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic effects of the aqueous extract of Hyptis pectinata leaves in experimental animals

The aqueous leaf extract of Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae), popularly known in Brazil as "sambaicatá" or "canudinho", was tested for its antinociceptive effects using the abdominal writhing, hot plate and formalin test models, and for its aniedematogenic effects using the carrageenin and arachidonic acid-induced rat paw edema. The aqueous extract of Hyptis pectinata administered orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg had a significant antinociceptive effect in the test of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, with 43, 51 and 54% reduction of writhes, respectively, compared to the control. An increase in hot-plate latency of 47 and 37.5% was also observed in animals receiving doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. when placed on a hot plate. In the formalin test, doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. had no significant effect during the first phase of the test (0-5 min), while the dose of 200 mg/kg, p.o. reduced the nociceptive effect by 70% during the second phase (20-25 min). At the dose of 600 mg/kg, p.o., the aqueous extract inhibited carrageenin-induced rat paw edema by 34.1%, and the dose of 300 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally inhibited the rat paw edema induced by subplantar injection of arachidonic acid by 32.8%. These results suggest that the aqueous extract from the Hyptis pectinata leaves produces antiedematogenic and antinociceptive effects. The antinocipetion observed with the hot-plate test probably involves the participation of the opioid system.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Thespesia populnea bark extract

The ethanolic extract of Thespesia populnea bark (TPE) was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at the doses (p.o.) of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg body weight. For evaluation of inflammation carrageenan-, histamine- and serotonin-induced paw edema served as acute models and formaldehyde-induced arthritis served as a chronic model in rats. The acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking time in the early and late phases of mice were used to assess analgesic activity. The higher doses of TPE (200 and 400mg/kg, p.o.) were inhibiting carrageenan, histamine and serotonin-induced paw edema as well as formaldehyde-induced arthritis successfully. In addition, TPE (200 and 400mg/kg, p.o.) significantly attenuated the writhing responses induced by an intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid and late phase of pain response induced by an subplantar injection of formalin in mice. Furthermore, our phytochemical studies indicated that the ethanolic extract of bark contains alkaloids, carbohydrates, protein, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, gums and mucilage, saponins and terpenes. From acute oral toxicity studies (OECD-423 guidelines), no mortality was observed even at highest dose of TPE (2000mg/kg, p.o.).