Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Satureja hortensis seed extracts and to analyze their essential oil constituents. Materials and Methods: Hydroalcoholic and polyphenolic extracts and essential oil of S. hortensis seeds were prepared using standard methods. Analgesic activity was assessed in male mice (25-35 g) using standard methods (acetic acid and formalin tests). For the evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity, the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test was used. The mice were pretreated with 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p., hydroalcoholic or polyphenolic extracts or 100 or 200 µl/kg, p.o. Results: Hydrodistillation of the seeds of S. hortensis afforded a pale yellowish oil in a yield of 0.05% (v/w). Pretreatment of mice with hydroalcoholic or polyphenolic extracts or essential oil significantly (p < 0.001) reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal twitches. Hydroalcoholic extracts also significantly reduced pain responses in early and late phases of the formalin test whereas the polyphenolic extract and essential oil were only effective in the late phase of the formalin test. All three fractions were found to reduce paw edema in the carrageenan test. Conclusion: These results clearly demonstrate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of S. hortensis seeds and since the hydroalcoholic extract relieved pain in the first phase of the formalin test, it seems that at least part of its analgesic activity may be mediated centrally. The results of this study substantiated the traditional use of S. hortensis plant seeds in painful and inflammatory ailments.

Keywords:
Acetic acid test, Analgesic, Formalin test, Lamiaceae, Paw edema, Satureja hortensis
1.
Zakaria ZA, Mohamad AS, Chear CT, Wong YY, Israf DA, Sulaiman MR: Anti-inflammtory and antinociceptive activities of Zingiber zerumbet methanol extract in experimental model systems. Med Princ Pract 2010;19:287-294.
2.
Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Pezeshkian SK: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Satureja hortensis L. extracts and essential oil. J Ethnopharmacol 2002;82:83-87.
3.
Khalid S, Shaik Mossadeq WM, Israf DA, Hashim P, Rejab S, Shaberi AM, Mohamad AS, Zakaria ZA, Sulaiman MR: In vivo analgesic effect of Tamarindus indica L. fruits. Med Princ Pract 2010;19:255-259.
4.
Hajhashemi V, Sajjadi SE, Heshmati M: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Heracleum persicum essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract in animal models. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;124:475-480.
5.
Panthong A, Kanjanapothi D, Taesotikul T, Phankummoon A, Panthong K, Reutrakul V: Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extracts from Ventilago harmandiana Pierre. J Ethnopharmacol 2004;91:237-242.
6.
Hajhashemi V, Sajjadi SE, Zomorodkia M: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Bunium persicum essential oil, hydroalcoholic and polyphenolic extracts in animal models. Pharm Biol 2011;49:146-151.
7.
Gulluce M, Sokmen M, Daferera D, Agar G, Ozkan H, Kartal N, Polissiou M, Sokmen A, Sahin F: In vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extracts of herbal parts and callus cultures of Satureja hortensis L. J Agric Food Chem 2003;51:3958-3965.
8.
Hajhashemi V, Sadraei H, Ghannadi AR, Mohseni M: Antispasmodic and anti-diarrhoeal effect of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil. J Ethnopharmacol 2000;71:187-192.
9.
Leung AY, Foster S: Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics, ed 2. New York, Wiley, 1996.
10.
Zargari A: Medicinal Plants. Tehran, Tehran University Publications, 1990.
11.
Dorman HJ, Bachmayer O, Kosar M, Hiltunen R: Antioxidant properties of aqueous extracts from selected lamiaceae species grown in Turkey. J Agric Food Chem 2004;52:762-770.
12.
Amin G: Popular Medicinal Plants of Iran. Tehran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 1993.
13.
Sajjadi SE, Movahedian-Atar AM, Yektaian A: Antihyperlipidemic effect of hydroalcoholic extract and polyphenolic fraction from Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. Pharm Acta Helv 1998;73:167-170.
14.
Adams RP: Identification of Essential Oil Components by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy. Carol Stream, Allured Publishing Corporation, 1995.
15.
Swigar AA, Silverstein RM: Monoterpenes. Infrared, Mass, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR14 Spectra and Kovats Indices. St Louis, Aldrich Chemical Company, 1981.
16.
Koster R, Anderson M, De Beer EJ: Acetic acid for analgesic screening. Fed Proc 1959;18:412-417.
17.
Hunskaar S, Hole K: The formalin test in mice: dissociation between inflammatory and non-inflammatory pain. Pain 1987;30:103-114.
18.
Winter CA, Risley EA, Nuss GW: Carrageenin-induced edema in hind paw of the rat as an assay for anti-iflammatory drugs. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 1962;111:544-547.
19.
Ghannadi A: Composition of essential oil of S. hortensis L. seeds from Iran. J Essent Oil Res 2002;14:35-36.
20.
Daferera DJ, Ziogas BN, Polissiou MG: GC-MS analysis of essential oils from some Greek aromatic plants and their fungitoxicity on Penicillium digitatum. J Agric Food Chem 2000;48:2576-2581.
21.
Le BD, Gozariu M, Cadden SW: Animal models of nociception. Pharmacol Rev 2001;53:597-652.
22.
Vogel HG, Vogel WH: Drug Discovery and Evaluation. Berlin, Springer, 1997.
23.
Collier HO, Dinneen LC, Johnson CA, -Schneider C: The abdominal constriction response and its suppression by analgesic drugs in the mouse. Br J Pharmacol Chemother 1968;32:295-310.
24.
Tjolsen A, Berge OG, Hunskaar S, Rosland JH, Hole K: The formalin test: an evaluation of the method. Pain 1992;51:5-17.
25.
Chen YF, Tsai HY, Wu TS: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities from roots of Angelica pubescens. Planta Med 1995;61:2-8.
26.
Elisabetsky E, Amador TA, Albuquerque RR, Nunes DS, Carvalho AC: Analgesic activity of Psychotria colorata (Willd. ex R & S) Muell. Arg. alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol 1995;48:77-83.
27.
Ghannadi A, Hajhashemi V, Jafarabadi H: An investigation of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Nigella sativa seed polyphenols. J Med Food 2005;8:488-493.
28.
Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Sharif B: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the leaf extracts and essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;89:67-71.
29.
Bors W, Saran M: Radical scavenging by flavonoid antioxidants. Free Radic Res Commun 1987;2:289-294.
30.
Amresh G, Reddy GD, Rao C, Singh PN: Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of Cissampelos pareira root in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 2007;110:526-531.
31.
Antonio MA, Souza Brito AR: Oral anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activities of a hydroalcoholic extract and partitioned fractions of Turnera ulmifolia (Turneraceae). J Ethnopharmacol 1998;61:215-228.
© 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel
2011
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.