Analgesic activity of Salvia wiedemannii Boiss. used in Turkish Folk Medicine

The aerial part of Salvia wiedemannii Boiss. (Lamiaceae) has been used for treatment of peptic ulcers and relieving pain in Turkish folk medicine. To evaluate the analgesic effect of S. wiedemannii, tail flick and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were used in mice. The chloroform extract (500 mg/kg, i.p.) obtained from S. wiedemannii showed significant analgesic activity on tail flick assay, while water, ethanol and butanol extracts of the plant had no activity on the same test. Chloroform extract (500 mg/kg, i.p.) also inhibited number of writhings induced by acetic acid. Chloroform extract provided analgesic effects similar to morphine. Its effect was quick and durable. This in vivo study demonstrates that S. wiedemannii has strong analgesic effect as the public believed.