Anti-inflammatory Activities of Methanolic Extracts of Stachys persica and Stachys setifera on Rats and Mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of total methanolic extracts isolated from aerial parts of Stachys persica and Stachys setifera. The anti-inflammatory properties of the extracts were assessed by using two well-characterized inflammatory models, carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin test in rats and mice. Intraperitoneal injections of the extracts 60 min before carrageenan injection caused significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced paw edema over the dose range 50-200 mg kg-1. The extract of Stachys persica showed more inhibitory effect especially with higher doses (100 and 200 mg kg-1). In the formalin test, intraperitoneal injections of different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg kg-1) of either Stachys persica or Stachys setifera 30 min before formalin injection did not show any inhibitory effects in the first phase (0-10 min) of the formalin-induced pain, but all three doses of the extracts revealed a significant (p<0.01) blockade of the second phase (20-30 min) nociception. The anti-inflammatory properties of both extracts were comparable with indomethacin as a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. In conclusion, the present findings provide further evidences for inhibitory effects of Stachys persica and Stachys setifera in inflammatory processes via possible interactions with cyclooxygenase products.