Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Dorema ammoniacum gum in animal model

Dorema ammoniacum gum (DAG) has been used for different illnesses in Iranian traditional medicine. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous solution of Dorema ammoniacum gum (DAG) in animal model. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic Effects of DAG were examined using carraginane-induced edema test, formalin test and acetic acid-induced writhing response. 42 male albino mice randomly assigned in different groups were pretreated randomly assigned 5 groups. Groups were pretreated either with normal saline, morphine or aspirin and different doses of DAG (125, 250, 500 mg/kg, i.p.) for determination of analgesic effect. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by the rat paw carrageenan induced edema and was compared to positive controls. DAG exhibited the analgesic effect in chronic phase of formalin test in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Also, application of different doses of DAG had significant analgesic effect in acetic acid writing test 30 min after its injection. DAG showed anti-inflammatory effect in a dose dependent manner. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extract was comparable to indomethacin in higher doses. Thus, our results demonstrate that ammoniacum gum has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in animal models and hence justify the traditional use of this plant in the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions. Further studies seem necessary to clarify about the active components of this plant.