title: Achillea santolina reduces serum interleukin-6 level and hyperalgesia during complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation in male Wistar rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immune system is involved in the etiology and pathophysiologic mechanisms of inflammation. Medicinal plants are an important source of substances which are claimed to induce non-specific immunomodulatory effects. In view of this and on account of the interleukin (IL)-6's role in inflammation and pain induction, this study investigated the effects of Achillea santolina extracts on inflammation which was induced by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in male Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both methanolic and defatted extracts prepared from aerial parts of the plant were examined. Inflammatory symptoms such as hyperalgesia and paw edema in CFA-injected rats' paw were measured by radiant heat and plethysmometer during different stages of study respectively. Serum IL-6 level was checked by rat standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated dose-related effects of methanolic extract on paw edema, hyperalgesia and serum IL-6 level reduction in rats. Methanolic extract of A. santolina exhibited significant antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effects during pretreatment and short-term treatment at dose of 200 mg/kg and there was no significant difference between 200 and 400 mg/kg doses of this extract. Defatted extract did not show significant effect on CFA-induced inflammation during different stages of treatment (P>0.05). Short-term treatment with methanolic extract at dose of 200 mg/kg was more effective than indomethacin in edema, hyperalgesia and serum IL-6 level reduction (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that methanolic extract of A. santolina possesses potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities during pretreatment and short-term administration.
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. jzaringhalam@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaringhalam
authors.forename: Akhtar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tekieh
authors.forename: Homa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manaheji
authors.forename: Shamsali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant