In vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil from Artemisia sieberi fruit

Background and objectives: Drugs with analgesic properties such as opioids and NSAIDs have not been effective in all cases, because of their low potency and side effects. As a result, looking for other alternatives is necessary. Plants are important sources of new phytochemicals that possess significant therapeutic effects. Regarding the traditional use of Artemisia sieberi fruit as a natural painkiller and anti-inflammatory agent and the high content of essential oil in the fruits, we were prompted to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of A. sieberi fruits oil. Methods: Artemisia sieberi fruits essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation method. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the oil were studied by formalin and carrageenan tests, respectively at the doses of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg for the experimental animals. Control group received sweet almond oil as the vehicle and standard groups received morphine (2 mg/kg) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg) for the formalin and carrageenan tests respectively. Results: All doses of A. sieberi fruits essential oil induced antinociceptive activity during the second phase of the formalin test but the maximum effect was observed at the dose of 0.8 mg/kg. In carrageenan test all the experimental doses of theoil significantly reduced the inflammation (p<0.05). Anti-inflammatory activity of A. sieberi oil (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg) was found to be as considerable as the standard drug indomethacin (5 mg/kg). Conclusion: Artemisia sieberi fruit essential oil showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects which might be attributed to the major components of the studied oil, camphor and 1,8-cineole.