Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities and the phytochemical study of Astragalus arbusculinus gum in animal models.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The importance of inflammatory diseases and side effects of conventional drugs necessitate the finding of new anti-inflammatory agents from natural sources. In this study, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the aqueous extract of Astragalus arbusculinus gum were evaluated in animal models.

METHODS:

Thirty-five male Wistar rats were divided into five groups and pretreated with different doses of A. arbusculinus gum extract before the injection of formalin. Paw edema was measured by a plethysmometer at time 0 and after 8 days and compared to controls. The analgesic effect of the extract was evaluated using the hot-plate test in 42 male albino mice.

RESULTS:

The extract of A. arbusculinus gum decreased the rat paw edema in a dose-dependent manner. The effect on inflammation of the highest dose of extract was comparable to sodium salicylate. Astragalus arbusculinus gum extract at doses of 300 and 1000 mg/kg showed analgesic effects comparable to sodium salicylate and morphine, respectively. A preliminary phytochemical study and the determination of the total phenolic content of the gum extract were performed for the first time.

CONCLUSIONS:

The aqueous extract of A. arbusculinus gum reduced the inflammation and pain in a dose-dependent manner and is a good candidate for further studies of safety and efficacy. The clarification of active components of the plant is necessary.

• Authors: Asie Shojaii, Manijeh Motevalian, Nazanin Rahnama
• Journal: Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology (J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol) Vol. 26 Issue 4 Pg. 369-74 (Jul 2015) ISSN: 2191-0286 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25536664 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Plant Extracts
• Plant Gums
• Sodium Salicylate

Topics

• Analgesics (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology)
• Astragalus Plant
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Inflammation (drug therapy)
• Male
• Mice
• Pain (drug therapy)
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Plant Gums
• Plant Leaves
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Sodium Salicylate (pharmacology)