![]() | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Herbal medicines are assuming a great importance in the primary healthcare of individuals and society. Regrettably, a huge amount of information, related to complementary medicine, especially those regarding its efficacy and safety is garnered exclusively from anecdotal beliefs. Accordingly, we propose to scientifically justify some of the folkloric use of two Egyptian medicinal plant extracts, namely olive leaves and Tamarix aphylla. Initially, we ensured the safety of both extracts through acute oral administration of graded doses up to 4g\kg in albino mice and Wistar rats of both sexes. Thus, the extracts were considered generally safe. we also evaluated the peripheral and central antinociceptive activity using acetic acid-induced writhing reflex and tail immersion assay, respectively. Both plant extracts at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg produced potent analgesic activity in a dosedependent manner, compared to the standard drugs. Then, we evaluated the capability of both extracts to reduce pyrexia using brewer’s yeast. Again, both OL and TA produced potent antipyretic activity comparable with paracetamol (100 mg). Additionally, the antiinflammatory activity was evaluated either in-vivo using the carrageenan-induced paw edema model or in-vitro using a heat-induced hemolysis assay. Both extracts produced a significant antiinflammatory effect. Finally, we performed milk-induced leukocytosis and eosinophilia to prove the anti-allergic activity, which resulted in a potent reduction in leukocytosis and eosinophilia induced by milk. |