Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Methanol Extract from Pogostemon cablin.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Nov 20;

Authors: Lu TC, Liao JC, Huang TH, Lin YC, Liu CY, Chiu YJ, Peng WH

Pogostemon cablin (PC) is a herbal medicine traditionally applied to treat not only common cold, nausea and diarrhea but also headache and fever. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of standardized PC methanol extract (PCMeOH) in vivo. Investigations were performed in mice with two analgesic models. One was acetic acid-induced writhing response and the other formalin-induced paw licking. The anti-inflammatory effect was tested by lambda-carrageenan (Carr)-induced mice paw edema. These analgesic experimental results indicated that PCMeOH (1.0 g/kg) decreased the acetic acid-induced writhing responses and PCMeOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) decreased the licking time in the second phase of the formalin test. Moreover, Carr-induced paw edema inflammation was significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner when PCMeOH (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg) was administered 3 and 4 h after the Carr injection. Mechanistic studies showed that PCMeOH decreased the levels of malondialdehyde in the edema paw by increasing the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, in the liver and decreasing the cyclooxygenase 2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha activities in the edema paw. This study has demonstrated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of PCMeOH, thus verifying its popular use in traditional medicine.

BOTTOM LINE: Pogostemon cablin is other wise known as patchouli (patchouly or pachouli) oil, an essential oil. Yes, the same one that has been used as a heavy perfume. It has been used as a snakebite venom antidote, aromatherapy relaxation, and treatment of headaches, colds, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. While this does not prove that it works to treat all of these problems, it lends some scientific research credibility and plausibility towards such anti-inflammatory and pain relief uses.