Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Heracleum persicum essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract in animal models

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFruits of Heracleum persicum (Apiaceae) are used as pain killer in Iranian folkloric medicine.Aims of studyTo evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the hydroalcoholic extract and essential oil of the plant fruits and analyzing the essential oil.Materials and methodsEssential oil and hydroalcoholic extracts of the fruits were prepared according to standard methods and the components of essential oil were identified using GC–MS method. The acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin test were used in male mice to assess analgesic activity. For evaluation of anti-inflammatory effect, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema was used.ResultsHexyl butyrate (56.5%), octyl acetate (16.5%), hexyl 2-methylbutanoate (5.2%) and hexyl isobutyrate (3.4%) were identified as the major constituents of the oil. Oral or intraperitoneal administration of Heracleum persicum essential oil (HPEO) at doses of 50–200 mg/kg and Heracleum persicum hydroalcoholic extract (HPHE) at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions. HPEO and HPHE also significantly attenuated the pain response of the second phase of formalin test.In carrageenan test HPEO at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg and HPHE at a dose of 400 mg/kg induced a significant reduction of paw edema.ConclusionsThese results clearly show the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the plant essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of action and the components responsible for these pharmacological effects.