Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effect of Symphytum officinale root

摘要

The present work evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of a Symphytum officinale root extract standardized in rosmarinic acid. The anti-inflammatory effect of the hydroglycero-alcoholic extract administered orally was assessed by the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method while the antinociceptive effect was determined by the acetic acid induced writhing test in mice and by Randall Selitto test in rats. Content in rosmarinic acid quantified by a HPLC-MS method was 74.77 μg/mL. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema method administration of S. officinale extract (500 mg/kg, orally) reduced significantly and dose-dependently oedema by 55.6% at 1h after inflammation was induced. In the writhing test, S. officinale extract (500 mg/kg, orally) inhibited by 45.25% the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid in mice. In the Randall Selitto test in rats, the oral administration of S. officinale extract (500 mg/kg, orally) demonstrated a strong peripheral antinociceptive effect in the first two hours after administration increasing the pain threshold by 58%. Our study demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of S. officinale extract probably mediated by peripheral mechanisms which may justify the traditional use in the treatment of some inflammatory diseases.