Antinociceptive effect of some extracts from Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. ssp. tomentella (Boiss.) Rech. f. aerial parts

Abstract

BackgroundThe genus Ajuga is used for the treatment of joint pain, gout, and jaundice in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM). Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella is an exclusive subspecies of Ajuga chamaecistus in the flora of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate antinociceptive properties of some extracts from aerial parts of A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella.MethodsAntinociceptive activities of total water and 80% methanol extracts, hexane, diethyl ether and n-butanolic partition fractions of the methanolic extract were analyzed using the formalin test in mice. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) and normal saline were employed as positive and negative controls, respectively.ResultsOral administration of all extracts (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) 30 min before formalin injection had no effect against the acute phase (0–5 min after formalin injection) of the formalin-induced licking time, but hexane fraction (200 mg/kg) caused a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the chronic phase (15–60 min after formalin injection). Total water and diethyl ether extracts at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed a very significant analgesic activity on the chronic phase (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that the extracts of A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella have an analgesic property that supports traditional use of Ajuga genus for joint pain and other inflammatory diseases.

Evaluation of Ajuga bracteosa for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant and anticoagulant activities

“…Hexane fraction at 200 mg/Kg body weight of mice (BWM) caused significant analgesic effects on the chronic phase (15–60 min after formalin injection). However, to obtain the same analgesic effects by aqueous and diethyl ether extracts, a dose of 400 mg/Kg BWM was required [ 25 ]. Besides these extracts, methanolic extract of A. bracteosa induced a strong in vivo anti-nociceptive effect in treated animals at a dose of 500 and 750 mg/Kg BWM in three different analgesic assays [ 26 ].…”

Medicinal Importance of Ajuga Species in Iran: Ethnobotanical and Traditional Applications, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Studies

“…As demonstrated in the study by Khanavi et al (2014), the oral administration of different doses of methanolic and aqueous extracts and their fractions (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg) had analgesic effects in the chronic phase (15 -60 min after formalin injection) in mice. Besides, total water and diethyl ether extracts at a dose of 400 mg/kg presented a very significant analgesic action (2).…”

“…The genus Ajuga (Kamaphytus) is used traditionally for the management of jaundice, joint pain, gout (2,17,18), amenorrhea, sciatica, and wound-healing in traditional Persian medicine (19,20). It is also utilized as a carminative and diuretic agent (3,10,20,21).…”

“…tomentella, also known as Sefid Moshkak and Mash Daro, is a shrub and perennial herb that grows mainly in mountainous areas and sporadically in other steppe and semi-steppe areas. Its habitat is located in the west, center, and south of Iran (2,4,76).…”

Anti-inflammatory effect of Algerian date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera)

“…The formalin test provides a moderate and continuous pain because of tissue injury in the animal, which is a better approach to clinical conditions than more traditional tests of nociception (Khanavi, Davoodipoor, Sadati, Shams Ardekani, & Sharifzadeh, 2014). Formalin-induced inflammation involves three distinct phases based on the release of different inflammatory mediators, namely serotonin and histamine in the first phase (0-2 h), kinins like bradykinin in second phase (3 h) and prostaglandins in the third phase (>4 h) (Viswanatha et al, 2011).…”