ANALGESIC AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF SCOPARIA-DULCIS L EXTRACTS AND GLUTINOL IN RODENTS

The analgesic, antiinflammatory and antipyretic activities of the wate r (WE) and ethanolic (EE) extracts of Scoparia dulcis L. were tested i n mice and rats. Both extracts (0.5 and 1 g/kg) p.o., prolonged the sl eeping time induced by pentobarbital in mice, EE being more active tha n WE. Injections of EE (0.5-2 mg/kg i.v.) to anaesthetized rats induce d a dose-related hypertension inhibited by alpha-blocker drugs; the hy pertension was not obtained after oral treatment. EE (0.25-1 g/kg p.o. ) but not WE, reduced writhings induced by acetic acid in mice. Glutin ol (30 mg/kg p.o.), a major triterpene obtained from EE, produced the same effect. The tail flick response of mice was not influenced by eit her extract. EE (0.5 and 1 g/kg) and glutinol (30 mg/kg) p.o., reduced the paw oedema and pleurisy induced by carrageenin in rats, but only EE (1 g/kg) reduced the paw oedema induced by dextran or histamine. No effect of EE was detected on chronic inflammation induced by cotton p ellets and in yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats. The results indicate that the extract of S. dulcis is endowed with analgesic effects proba bly related to the antiinflammatory activity of the plant. Those effec ts are related mainly to the presence of glutinol and flavonoids, whic h exert their action on the early phase of the acute inflammatory proc ess.