Evaluation of Tanacetum larvatum for an anti-inflammatory activity and for the protection against indomethacin-induced ulcerogenesis in rats

Oral administration of the chloroform extract from Tanacetum larvatum (Griseb. ex Pant.) Kanitz caused a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test. The obtained anti-inflammatory effect was 8.6, 32.8, 37.0 and 49.5% for the extract doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively, being statistically significant at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Indomethacin had a strong anti-inflammatory effect of 73.4% at a dose of 8 mg/kg, but large gastric lesions were detected. When the plant extract in the highest tested dose (200 mg/kg) was concomitantly given with indomethacin, the anti-inflammatory effect was slightly enhanced, but the gastric lesions were significantly reduced. The anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity may be mainly due to the inhibition of DNA binding of the transcription factor NF-kappaB by components of the plant extract. This was proven in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay at a concentration of 50 mug/ml. Due to its anti-inflammatory as well as anti-ulcer effects, Tanacetum larvatum should especially be used combined with those drugs that are known both for their strong anti-inflammatory activities and the ulcerogenic side effects such as NSAIDs