title: Antinociceptive effect of extracts ofMarrubium astracanicumJacq. aerial parts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The genusMarrubiumis used for treatment of joint pain, gout, stomach-ache and colic in Iranian Traditional Medicine.Marrubium astracanicumJacq. (M. astracanicum) is a native species in the flora of Iran. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive properties of various extracts of aerial parts ofM. astracanicum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antinociceptive activities of total hydroalcoholic extract (THE) and its n-hexane (non-polar) and residual partition (polar) fractions were analyzed using formalin test in mice. Morphine (5 mg/kg) and normal saline were used as positive and negative controls, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraperitoneal administration of THE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), non-polar fraction (200 mg/kg) and polar fraction (100 and 200 mg/kg), 30 min before formalin injection, caused significant analgesic activity in acute phase (0-5 min after formalin injection) of formalin test (p<0.05 as compared to control and p>0.05 in comparison with morphine). In chronic phase (15-60 min after formalin injection), non-polar and polar fractions (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) showed significant analgesic activity (p<0.001 as compared to control and p>0.05 in comparison with morphine).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different extracts ofM. astracanicumdemonstrated antinociceptive activity that support the traditional usage ofMarrubiumgenus for the treatment of arthritis, gout and other inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kahkeshani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Milad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gharedaghi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacognosy and Medicinal Plants Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hadjiakhoondi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharifzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Persian Medicine and Pharmacy Research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, B.C., Canada.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanavi
keywords: Analgesic; Marrubium astracanicum; Pain measurement