title: Antinociceptive effect of some extracts from Ajuga chamaecistus Ging. ssp. tomentella (Boiss.) Rech. f. aerial parts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genus Ajuga is used for the treatment of joint pain, gout, and jaundice in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM). Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella is an exclusive subspecies of Ajuga chamaecistus in the flora of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate antinociceptive properties of some extracts from aerial parts of A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antinociceptive activities of total water and 80% methanol extracts, hexane, diethyl ether and n-butanolic partition fractions of the methanolic extract were analyzed using the formalin test in mice. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) and normal saline were employed as positive and negative controls, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of all extracts (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) 30 min before formalin injection had no effect against the acute phase (0-5 min after formalin injection) of the formalin-induced licking time, but hexane fraction (200 mg/kg) caused a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the chronic phase (15-60 min after formalin injection). Total water and diethyl ether extracts at a dose of 400 mg/kg showed a very significant analgesic activity on the chronic phase (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that the extracts of A. chamaecistus ssp. tomentella have an analgesic property that supports traditional use of Ajuga genus for joint pain and other inflammatory diseases.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanavi
authors.forename: Araz Mohammad
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Davoodipoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Iranian Medicine and Traditional Iranian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. n_sadati@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Seyede Nargess
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sadati
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza Shams
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ardekani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
mesh_terms: D031328:Ajuga; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004986:Ether / Q000737:chemistry; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006586:Hexanes / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D006586:Hexanes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014867:Water; D004986:Ether; D005557:Formaldehyde; C026385:n-hexane; D000432:Methanol