Influence of some Stachys taxa on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats

This work investigates the anti- inflammatory activity of methanol extracts of four endemic Stachys ( Labiatae) taxa from the Balkans: S. beckeana Dorfler & Hayek, S. anisochila Vis. et Pancic, S. plumosa Griseb., and S. alpina L. subsp. dinarica Murb. As a model of acute inflammation, carrageenan- induced paw edema in rats was used. Extracts, applied at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/ kg p. o., exhibited dose- dependent activity. S. beckeana and S. anisochila extracts were the most active ones ( ED50 154.52 and 162.24 mg/ kg, respectively), with the activity comparable with indomethacin at doses of 2 and 4 mg/ kg. S. plumosa extract has shown less- pronounced anti- inflammatory effect ( ED50 220.81 mg= kg). Extract of S. alpina subsp. dinarica had the lowest efficiency, attenuating inflammation less than 50%.