Evaluation of Some Plants Used in Turkish Folk Medicine for Their Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activities

Ethanol and aqueous extracts obtained from 11 plant species from 11 families selected based on their use in Turkish folk medicine, including Isatis glauca. Aucher x Boiss. subsp glauca. (herb) (Brassicaceae), Tamus communis. L. (herb and root) (Dioscoreaceae), Rumex crispus. L. (herb) (Polygonaceae), Daphne oleoides. Schreber (aerial parts) (Thymeleaceae), Laurus nobilis. L. (leaves and seeds) (Lauraceae), Ranunculus tricophyllus. Chaix (herb) (Ranunculaceae), Anchusa azurea. Miller var. azurea. (herb) (Boraginaceae), Calluna vulgaris. L. (herb) (Ericaceae), Prunella vulgaris. L. (herb) (Lamiaceae), Scabiosa rotata. Bieb. (herb) (Dipsacaceae), and Arceuthobium oxycedri. (DC.) Bieb. (herb) (Loranthaceae), were evaluated for their in vivo. anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. Among the plant extracts studied, the ethanol extracts of Laurus nobilis. seed and Calluna vulgaris. herb and the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Arceuthobium oxycedri. herb displayed significant anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model in mice without inducing any gastric damage. The ethanol extracts of Isatis glauca. subsp. glauca., Calluna vulgaris., Laurus nobilis. (seeds) as well as the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Arceuthobium oxycedri. were also shown to possess significant antinociceptive activity in varying degrees against p.-benzoquinone-induced abdominal contraction test in mice.