Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-pyretic potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Trifolium pratense in mice

Introduction: There are some reports in traditional medicine concerning the anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-pyretic effects of Trifolium pretense (red clover). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of red clover inflammation, pain and fever in male mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 120 male mice were classified into twenty 6-member groups (4 tests and each test covering 5 groups), considering the ethics of working with laboratory animals. The hydroalcoholic extract of red clover was injected intraperitoneally at doses of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities were measured using xylene-induced ear edema and brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia tests, respectively. In addition, the anti-nociceptive activity was measured using the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid and formalin tests. The data were analyzed by SPSS and one-way ANOVA test. The significance was shown as p <0.05. Results: The doses of 500 mg/kg (p=0.003) and 750 mg/kg (p<0.001) significantly reduced inflammation. All the doses significantly reduced the pain in the abdominal constriction test and chronic pain in the formalin test and the doses of 500 and 750 mg/kg reduced the pain in in the acute phase of formalin test (p<0.001). Also, fever was significantly reduced (p<0.001) at dose of 750 mg/kg. Conclusion: The red clover has anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antipyretic effects, which are likely to be related to the isoflavonoid and flavonoid components of this plant. Further research is required.