Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Daphne retusa Hemsl.
Daphne retusa Hemsl. belongs to the genus Daphne, a member of Thymelaeaceae family. The barks and stems of Daphne retusa are used as a folkloric medicine 'Zhu Shi Ma' in Western China because of its effects of detumescence and acesodyne. In this paper, we investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the 75% ethanol extract of the stems and barks of Daphne retusa and different fractions partitioned with petroleum ether, methylene chloride, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using xylene-induced ear oedema in mice and carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats, while the acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot-plate test as models for evaluating the centrally and peripherally analgesic activity. The results showed the plant has significant anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects (P<0.05-0.01). Meanwhile, the result of the acute toxicity test at which the MTD was above 5g/kg indicates that the plant extract is relatively safe in, and/or non-toxic to, mice. The findings of these experimental animal studies indicate that the Daphne retusa ethanol extract possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and thus provide pharmacological support to folkloric, ethnomedical uses of 'Zhu shima' in the treatment and/of management of anti-inflammatory and painful conditions in China.
Hu
Xiaojia
X
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China.
Jin
Huizi
H
Xu
Wenzheng
W
Zhang
Wei
W
Liu
Xiaohua
X
Yan
Shikai
S
Chen
Ming
M
Li
Jianqiang
J
Zhang
Wei-dong
WD
D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D032364:Daphne / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018547:Plant Stems; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents