title: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of extract and two isolated flavonoids of Carthamus tinctorius L.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been long used both in the traditional system and folk medicine as an analgesic anti-inflammatory agent in China. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and two isolated kaempferol glycosides of Carthamus tinctorius L. to provide experimental evidence for its traditional use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antinociceptive effects of HE, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (K-3-R) and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside (K-3-G) were assessed in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin test and cinnamaldehyde test. The anti-inflammatory effects of HE, K-3-R and K-3-G were determined in two animal models: carrageenan-induced paw edema and xylene-induced ear edema.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HPLC analysis showed the presence of K-3-R and K-3-G in Carthamus tinctorius L. HE (500 and 1000mg/kg) as well as K-3-R and K-3-G (150, 300 and 600mg/kg) produced significant inhibition on nociception induced by acetic acid and formalin. Oral treatment of HE, K-3-R and K-3-G at all doses significantly reduced both the nociceptive response and cinnamaldehyde-induced paw edema, effect that was superior to aspirin. In anti-inflammatory tests, HE and K-3-G significantly inhibited the paw edema during the both phases of carrageenan-induced inflammation while K-3-G suppressed the late phase inflammation only. HE (400 and 800mg/kg) and K-3-G (200, 400, 800mg/kg) produced significant dose-dependent inhibition of xylene-induced ear edema development. K-3-R only suppressed ear edema formation at a high dose (800mg/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that Carthamus tinctorius L. extract possess remarkable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities which may be due to K-3-R and K-3-G at least in part, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory and pain diseases.
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Changyun
authors: C
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Yao
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors: Yazhen
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Pharmacognosy, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. Electronic address: zhanghhx@vip.sina.com.
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000171:Acrolein / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D031187:Carthamus tinctorius; D004423:Ear / Q000473:pathology; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044949:Kaempferols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005960:Glucosides; D044949:Kaempferols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014992:Xylenes; D000171:Acrolein; D002351:Carrageenan; D019342:Acetic Acid; C012843:cinnamaldehyde
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antinociceptive; Kaempferol 3-O-glucoside (PubChem CID: 44258798); Kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside (PubChem CID: 5318767); Kaempferol glycosides; Safflower