Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of Ruscus aculeatus L hydroalcoholic extract in male NMRI mice

Due to the properties of herbal remedies and their lesser side effects than chemical drugs, much attention has now beeing paid to herbal treatments. The aim of this study was done to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Ruscus aculeatus.

This experimental study was performed on 80 male NMRI mice (6-8 weeks) weighing 23-25 gr. Animals were randomly allocated into 5 groups including: control group (distilled water), positive control group (morphine 10 mg/kg/bw in pain test and dexamethasone 15 mg/kg/bw in inflammatory test) and three groups receiving 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg/bw Hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L. The pain was evaluated by formalin test and an investigation of inflammation conducted by xylene induced ear-edema.

The hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L significantly reduced acute pain at 300 mg/kg/bw in compared to control group (P<0.05). Inhibition percent was 60% for acute pain and 85% in morphine group. Also, this plant caused significant reduction of formalin induced chronic pain at 150 and 300 mg/kg/bw doses in compared to the control group (P<0.05). At 150 and 300 mg/kg doses of Ruscus aculeatus L, inhibition of chronic pain was 71%, and 94%, respectively in compared with 97% inhibition in morphine group.

Hydroalcoholic extract of Ruscus aculeatus L at the dose of 300 mg/kg/bw reduces acute and chronic pain and at the dose of 150 mg/kg/bw reduces acute pain in laboratory animals.