Anti-inflammatory activity of Teucrium polium

Teucrium polium is widely used by the folk-medicine practitioners in Saudi Arabia for the treatment of inflammations, rheumatism, diabetes and ulcers. Scientific reports are lacking to confirm these activities. The present study reports the effect of ethanolic extract of T. polium on carrageenan-induced acute inflammation, cotton-pellet granuloma and some of the biochemical parameters. The ethanolic extract of Teucrium polium at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced inflammation and cotton-pellet granuloma. Biochemical studies showed a significant decrease in glucose level. The presence of flavonoids and sterols might be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of this plant. Further studies on the fractionation of the phytoconstituents, and on their mechanism of action are in progress.