Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Teucrium chamaedrys Leaves Aqueous Extract in Male Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Pharmacoeconomy and Pharmaceutical Management, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Student Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khoramabad, Iran

Abstract

Objective(s)
Current study was undertaken to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Teucrium chamaedrys in mice and rats.
Materials and Methods
For evaluating of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, we used the carrageenan- and dextran-induced paw oedema, acetic acid-induced writhing, tail flick and formalin pain tests.
Results
The extract of T. chamaedrys (50-200 mg/kg) and acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg) produced a significant (P< 0.01) inhibition of the second phase response in the formalin pain model, while only the high dose (200 mg/kg) of the extract showed an analgesic effect in the first phase. The extract also inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal writhes in a dose-dependent manner. The tail flick latency was dose dependently enhanced by the extract but this was significantly (P< 0.05) lower than that produced by morphine (10 mg/kg). The extract (25-250 mg/kg) administered 1 hr before carrageenan-induced paw swelling produced a dose dependent inhibition of the oedema. No effect was observed with the dextran-induced oedema model. Results of the phytochemical screening show the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and triterpenoids in the extract.
Conclusion
The data obtained also suggest that the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the extract may be mediated via both peripheral and central mechanisms. The role of alkaloids, flavonoids and triterpenoids will evaluate in future studies.

Keywords


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