title: Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory effects and acute toxicity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Myrtus communis L. Aerial parts in mice.
abstract: Myrtus communis L. aerial parts have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. In this study 350 mice were divided into three main groups: negative (saline), positive (morphine or diclofenac) controls, and test groups. The acute toxicity was assessed for 2 days. Antinociceptive activity was performed using hot plate and writhing tests. The anti-inflammatory effect was investigated using xylene-induced ear edema and a cotton pellet test. According to phytochemical screening, the extracts contained tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The LD50 values of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts were 0.473 and 0.79 g/kg, respectively. In hot plate test, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed significant antinociceptive activity that was inhibited by naloxone. The extracts exhibited antinociceptive activity against acetic acid-induced writhing and also showed significant activity against acute inflammation which was dose dependent for aqueous extract. The ethanolic (0.05 g/kg) and aqueous extracts (0.005, 0.015, and 0.03 g/kg) demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects against chronic inflammation. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of M communis L. showed antinociceptive effects and these may be mediated by opioid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmacodynamy and Toxicology Department, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, I.R. Iran. hosseinzadehh@mums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseinzadeh
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khoshdel
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts