ABSTRACT
Inflammation is a dynamic process that is elicited in response to various harmful stimulantsthat may threaten the well-being of the host. Herbs have been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory agents since very early times. Rubia tinctorum L. is one of these herbs that havebeen used for treating inflammatory diseases in Iranian traditional medicine. This study aims at considering anti-inflammatory effects of R. tinctorum and comparing its extracts in this property. The root of Rubia tinctorum [Rubiaceae] was collected from Yazd province, in the center of Iran. The root extracts of plant were studied for their anti-inflammatory activity by using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in Wistarmale rats. Indomethacin and normal saline were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Different concentrations of aqueous, ethanolic, and 50% aq. ethanolic extracts [600, 800, 1000 mg/kg] were given orally before carrageenan injection. The paw thickness was measured at 1, 3 and 5 hours after injection. Results: Both, aqueous and 50% eq. ethanolic extracts reduced paw edema at 600 and 800 mg/kg concentrations. Moreover, ethanolic extract showed significant effect only inl[st] hour after carrageenan injection. The results indicated that the aqueous extract were exhibited higher anti-inflammatory effect compared with other extracts. Accordingly, the potent anti-inflammatory effect of the root extracts is attributed to the polar compounds which are extracted in the water
ABSTRACT
Apiaceae family is one of the largest plant families with wide distribution all around the world. The genus Hippomarathrum has 28 species around the world which among them the species H. microcarpum outspread in the North, Northwest, West and Central of Iran, and also Turkey, Caucasus and Iraq. In this study, the main compounds in ethyl acetate extract from aerial parts of the plant Hippomarathrum microcarpum have been studied. The isolation and purification of the compounds were carried out using column chromatography. The structure of isolated compound established according 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectral data. Two coumarins [osthole and isoimperatorin] and one sterol [beta-sitosterol] have been isolated and identified from ethyl acetate extract. The presence of coumarines like osthole and isoimperatorin in H. microcarpum cause of the importance of this plant. This coumarines have verity of usages in traditional medicine and recent studies have supported most of these usages and revealed new effects of these coumarines. As regard that more research haven't been done about this plant and also because of significance effects of isolated coumarines, it seems necessary to perform further studies on biological effects of this plant