PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING, ACUTE TOXICITY, ANTINOCICEPTIVE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF THE AQUEOUS EXTRACT OF Lavandula stoekas (L.) FLOWERS IN MICE

The objective of the study was to identify phytochemical constituents of Lavandula stoekas and to determine the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as the acute toxic effects of the aqueous extract of Lavandula stoekas in mice. The LD50, preliminary phytochemical screening, anti-inflammatory and analgesic potentials of the aqueous extract from the flowers of Lavandula stoekas L (AEFLS) were investigated in mice using carragenin (inducing paw oedema), formalin (inducing nociception), paw licking, acetic acid (inducing writhing) in mice. The LD50 was found to be > 5000 mg/Kg body weight. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of coumarins, steroids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Concerning the acetic acid writhing test, the percentage of inhibition was obtained at the dose of 400 and 600 mg/kg (60.27 and 56.54%), close to that of the aspirin drug (62.03%). For formalin-induced nociception, the tested extract at 600 mg/kg showed a higher percentage of inhibition compared to aspirin, in early (62.07 and 57.18%), and in late phase (77.37 and 74.01%), respectively. The extract at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight reduced significantly the formation of edema induced by carrageenan. At the end, our data showed that the AEFLS has a significant antalgic and anti-inflammatory activity which supports its use in traditional herbal medicine practice.