title: Antiinflammatory and chronic toxicity study of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. in rats.
abstract: The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of Ageratum conyzoides leaves was studied for its antiinflammatory effect on subacute (cotton pellet-induced granuloma) and chronic (formaldehyde-induced arthritis) models of inflammation in rats. The absence or presence of toxicity by prolonged use of HAE was also evaluated through biochemical and hematological analysis of rats blood samples using daily oral doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg body wt., during 90 days. The results showed that the group of rats treated with HAE (250 mg/kg body wt.; p.o.) had a 38.7% (p < 0.05) reduction in cotton-pellet granuloma. The development of chronically induced paw edema was also reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by the plant extract. The toxicity study did not show any treatment-related abnormalities in biochemical and hematological parameters. The biochemical analysis from blood samples drawn from group of rats treated orally with 500 mg/kg body wt. did, however, present 30.2% (p < 0.05) reduction of SGPT activity as compared to the corresponding control group. These results confirm the antiinflammatory properties of A. conyzoides, with no apparent hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Natural Products, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology. Federal University of Pernambuco, Cidade Universitaria, CEP 50.000, Recife-PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: A C A
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: E L F
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M C A
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wanderley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Afiatpour
authors.forename: M B S
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Maia
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D031163:Ageratum; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005557:Formaldehyde; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase