Introduction:Due to the use of Launaea acanthodes in relieving the inflammation among the native population of the region and the importance of alternative chemical drugs with herbal, and despite the widespread use of this plant among the local people, a quantitative study were carried out on Launaea acanthodes properties, especially about its anti-inflammatory ones. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of Launaea acanthodes gum on the process of inflammation in rats.Methods: A total of 49 male mice, randomly divided into 7 groups, containing 7 rats for each group, in standard group (positive control), aspirin was taken in Placebo group, distilled water was injected and in treatments group, gum extract was injected and in a control group not received any treatment. Intraperitoneal injection were administered for the treatments group using the Launaea acanthodes gum extract at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/per kg. Then to examine the anti-inflammatory test, the inflammation-making method was carried out through carrageenan 0.1 mL from 1% CAR suspension (w/v) dissolved into distilled water and 30 minutes after injecting the Launaea acanthodes extract, the standard drug of synthetic in standard group and distilled water in placebo group were injected into the in right hind paw of the rats subcutaneously. The control groups not receive any treatment but like previous groups, CAR injected. The edema was measured immediately before and after injecting CAR, at the time of zero and also at intervals 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours by Plethysmometer machine; Mark IITC, made in USA.Results: The results showed that the mean ± SD edema in the right hind paw at various times after carrajeenan injection in the control group, placebo group, treatment groups with extract in dose of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg and oral aspirin group, were 0.809±0.104, 0.810±0.103, 0.782±0.084, 0.758±0.069, 0.747±0.059, 0.722±0.047 and 0.733±0.055 respectively. Comparison between the groups using one-way variance analysis in all times showed that there is a significant relationship between the control group with the groups which receved 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg dose of extract (p=0.001) and group with the oral aspirin (P=0.001).Conclusion: The results showed that Launaea acanthodes has the anti-inflammatory effects and these effects have been more effective in doses of oral aspirin. Anti-inflammatory effect of Launaea acanthodes may be via the existence of flavanoids, phenols as well as terpens compouned, however, due to the lack of exact cause of anti- inflammatory effects and the exact mechanism of Launaea acanthodes function on the cells, it is necessary to be done more studies.
