Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit extract

In this study, probable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of El aeagnus angustifolia fruit components, were evaluated. For evaluation of an tinociceptive effects, the chronic (formalin test) and acute (tail-flick) p ain models of rats were used. For the anti-inflammatory effects, the paw in flammation model was used through subcutaneous injection of 5% formalin to the paw of male rats. Water extracts of the fruit and its components in the single dose were assessed through comparison with the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of sodium salicylate (SS) as a positive control. Administration of 300 mg/kg of SS (i.p.) had no effect on tail flick latenc y, while 1000 mg/kg of total (i.p. and p.o.) and endocarp (i.p.) extract, i ncreased this latency (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively), which was not re versed by naloxone (2 mg/kg). In the formalin test, SS (300 mg/kg, i.p.) an d the extract (1000 mg/kg, p.o.) alleviated the animals nociception in the second phase, while in the first phase they were not effective. The total a nd endocarp extracts (1000 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a significant effect on both phases (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively) which was also not reversed by naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.). In the acute anti-inflammatory test, the total ex tract and the aqueous extract of individual fruit components showed a signi ficant effect (P < 0.001). This anti-inflammatory effect was not significan t compared with the anti-inflammatory effect of SS. Because of the extract effect on the tail-flick latency and both phases of the formalin test, the site of its analgesic action is probably central, and the mechanism of anti nociceptive action of the extract are not related to the opioid system. Our phytochemical studies indicated that aqueous extract of E. angustifolia fr uit contains flavonoids, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides. (C) 2000 Elsevi er Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.