Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of some Libyan medicinal plants in experimental animals

• Published in: Archives of biological sciences Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 1059 - 1063
• Main Authors: El-Mezogi, J., Tripoli University (Libya). Faculty of Pharmacy, Zetrini, A., National Center for Medical Research, Zawia (Libya), Ben-Hussein, G., Tripoli University (Libya). Faculty of Pharmacy, Anwair, M., Tripoli University (Libya). Faculty of Pharmacy, Gbaj, A., Tripoli University (Libya). Faculty of Pharmacy, El-Ashheb, M., Tripoli University (Libya). Faculty of Medicine, Nahar, L., De Montfort University, Leicester, England (United Kingdom). Leicester School of Pharmacy, Sarker, S.D., University of Wolverhampton, England (United Kingdom). School of Applied Sciences
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad 2012
• Subjects: ANIMAL DE LABORATOIRE; ANIMALES DE LABORATORIO; ANTI-INFLAMMATOIRE; ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS; ANTINFLAMATORIOS; Ballota pseudodictamnus; carrageenan; DRUG PLANTS; EXTRACTOS VEGETALES; EXTRAIT D'ORIGINE VAGATALE; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2393; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4126; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4312; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_507; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8166; JAMAHIRIYA ARABE LIBYENNE; JAMAHIRIYA AURABE LIBIA; LABORATORY ANIMALS; LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA; PLANT EXTRACTS; PLANTAS MEDICINALES; PLANTE MADICINALE; Salvia fruticosa; Thapsia garganica
• ISSN: 0354-4664; 1821-4339
• DOI: 10.2298/ABS1203059E

Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. (Lamiaceae), Salvia fruticosa Mill. (Lamiaceae) and Thapsia garganica L. (Apiaceae) are three well-known medicinal plants from the Libyan flora, which have long been used for the treatment of inflammations. The aim of the present study was to investigate, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory property of the methanol (MeOH) extracts of the aerial parts of these plants. Shade-dried and ground aerial parts of B. pseudodictamnus, S. fruticosa) and T. garganica were Soxhlet-extracted with MeOH. The extracts were concentrated by evaporation under reduced pressure at 40 deg C. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced mice paw edema model. The administration of the extracts at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight produced statistically significant inhibition (p is less than 0.05) of edema within 3 h of carrageenan administration. The results demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties of the test extracts. Among the extracts, the S. fruticosa extract exhibited the most significant inhibition of inflammation after 3 h (62.1%). Thus, S. fruticosa could be a potential source for the discovery and development of newer anti-inflammatory 'leads' for drug development. The anti-inflammatory activity of B. pseudodictamnus and S. fruticosa could be assumed to be related to high levels of phenolic compounds, e.g., flavonoids, present in these plants.