Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties offractionated extracts in different parts of Sambucus ebulus

Background and purpose: In Iranian folk medicine, the leaves and rhizomes of the plant Sambucus ebulus have been used topically for curing painful joint diseases. This study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive efficacy of different parts of Sambucus ebulus in mice and rats.Materials and Methods: Different parts of Sambucus ebulus were collected from Sari. Fruits, leaves and roots were fractionated by successive solvent extraction with hexane, ethyl acetate and finally methanol. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts were determined using hot plate, writhing and carrageenan-induced inflammation tests in mice and rats respectively.Results: Nearly all extracts showed a dose dependent and marked analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities when compared to the control. Only hexane extract of leaves did not show any anti-inflammatory activity up to 600 mg/kg i.p. Hexane extract possessed significantly higher activity than methanol extract. Ethyl acetate extract were withdrawn because of severe nociceptive response in mice. No extracts exhibited any toxicity up to 2 g/ kg body weight intraperitoneally in mice for one week.Conclusion: The results of the present study support the folkloric utilization of this herb. Hexane extract of fruits showed highest analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Phytochemical analysis, the elucidation of exact mechanism of action and active components responsible for the hypernociceptive effect of ethyl acetate extract requires further investigations