Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Seven Endemic Verbascum Species Growing in Turkey

The leaves, flowers, and whole aerial parts of Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) species have been used to treat respiratory problems, eczema, and other types of inflammatory skin conditions in traditional Turkish medicine. Moreover, they have also been widely used as a folk medicine to produce a soothing and anti-inflammatory effect on the urinary tract. In order to evaluate their folkloric use, both antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of seven endemic Verbascum species [V. chionophyllum Hub.-Mor., V. cilicicum Boiss., V. dudleyanum (Hub.-Mor.) Hub.-Mor., V. latisepalum Hub.-Mor., V. pycnostachyum Boiss. & Heldr., V. salviifolium Boiss., V. splendidum Boiss.] were investigated. Antinociceptive activity was investigated via p-benzoquinone-induced writhing test, and the anti-inflammatory activity was studied using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, PGE2-induced hind paw edema, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema models in mice. The methanol extracts of the flowers of V. chionophyllum and V. pycnostachyum, and the aerial parts of V. latisepalum and V. salviifolium, displayed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity at 200 mg/kg oral dose without inducing any apparent acute toxicity or gastric damage. On the other hand, extracts from the rest of the species did not show any remarkable anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity. Results of the current study support the continued and expanded use of these plant species employed in Turkish folk medicine.