Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Seseli L. species (Apiaceae) growing in Turkey.

The ethyl acetate and methanol (80%) extracts obtained from 10 Seseli L. species (Apiaceae) growing in Turkey, Seseli andronakii Woron., Seseli campestre Besser, Seseli gummiferum Pall. ex Sm. subsp. corymbosum (Boiss. and Heldr.) P.H. Davis, Seseli gummiferum Pall. ex Sm. subsp. gummiferum, Seseli hartvigii Parolly and Nordt, Seseli libanotis (L.) W. Koch, Seseli petraeum M. Bieb., Seseli peucedanoides (Bieb.) Koso-Pol., Seseli resinosum Freyn and Sint., Seseli tortuosum L. were evaluated for their in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. For the preliminary screening of anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and for the antinociceptive activity, p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test were used. Among the plant extracts, the ethyl acetate extracts from Seseli andronakii, Seseli campestre, Seseli gummiferum subsp. corymbosum, Seseli petraeum, Seseli resinosum and Seseli tortuosum showed 30.1, 32.3, 36.9, 39.8, 35.1, 37.6% inhibition in p-benzoquinone-induced abdominal constriction test, respectively. The ethyl acetate extracts of Seseli gummiferum subsp. corymbosum, Seseli petraeum, Seseli resinosum and Seseli tortuosum also exhibited notable inhibition, ranging between 24.5-29.7, 28.1-33.3, 17.4-27.5 and 27.9-31.3%, respectively, in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model at 100 mg/kg dose without inducing any gastric damage, quite comparable to indomethacin (41.8-44.8% inhibition) as a reference sample. During the acute toxicity evaluation, neither death nor gastric bleeding was observed for any of the plant extracts. Results have supported the traditional use of some Seseli species against inflammatory disorders. Further studies are warranted to define and isolate the active anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive components from the active species which may yield safe and effective agents to be used in current treatments.