ABSTRACT
Ocimum gratissimum is used in popular medicine to treat painful diseases. The antinociceptive properties of O. gratissimum essential oil (OgEO) and two of its active principles (eugenol and myrcene) were tested in classic models of pain (hot plate test and formalin test). Adult male C57BL/6 J mice acutely received corn oil (control group, p.o.), morphine (positive control group, 5 mg/kg, i.p.), OgEO (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, p.o.), eugenol or myrcene (both at 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg, p.o.). The highest doses of all tested drugs significantly increased the latency to lick the paw(s) in the hot plate test compared with the control group. OgEO at a dose of 40 mg/kg and eugenol and myrcene at a dose of 10 mg/kg were effective in minimizing animal pain in the first and second phases of the formalin test. The antinociceptive effect shown by all drugs tested in hot plate test was reverted by naloxone administration (1 mg/kg), indicating opiod system participation. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of OgEO and its active principles against neurogenic and inflammatory pain. Our findings demonstrate that OgEO and its isolated active principles exhibited antinociceptive activity in murine pain models.
Subject(s)
Alkenes/pharmacology , Analgesics/pharmacology , Eugenol/pharmacology , Monoterpenes/pharmacology , Ocimum/chemistry , Oils, Volatile/pharmacology , Pain/drug therapy , Acyclic Monoterpenes , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Morphine/pharmacology , Naloxone/pharmacology , Pain MeasurementABSTRACT
The plant Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Machado is widely employed in Brazilian popular medicine as a stimulant, a tonic and a remedy for nervous debility. Several other plant products with similar therapeutic applications may have such effects based on the antioxidant content of polyphenols (gallates, cathecols, etc.) and flavonoids. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of Heteropteris aphrodisiaca O. Machado extracts on the antioxidant defences and oxidative stress of young and old rat brains. Tests of lipoperoxidation in vitro, comparing H. aphrodisiaca extracts with butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), a classic antioxidant, showed an efficient inhibition of lipoperoxidation (Q(1/2) = 3.3 microg/mL). Chronic treatment of young and old rats with 50 mg plant extract/kg body weight resulted in a significant increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities (40%) in the brain of old rats, but no changes in catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). No significant variations in antioxidant enzyme activities were observed in the brains of young rats. However, significantly lower levels of lipoperoxidation (30%) were detected in the brain of young rats upon plant extract administration, suggesting that H. aphrodisiaca extracts reduced the oxidative stress to brain lipids.
Subject(s)
Brain/drug effects , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal , Aging , Animals , Brain/enzymology , Male , Plant Roots/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Superoxide Dismutase/drug effectsSubject(s)
Drug and Narcotic Control , Triazolam/history , Female , History, 20th Century , Humans , Triazolam/adverse effectsSubject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Female , Rats , Plants, Medicinal , Maytenus , Maytenus/toxicity , Brassica , KalanchoeABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to compare the extent of salivary flow and finger sweating after single acute oral doses of mianserin (30 mg), amitryptiline (75 mg), imipramine (75 mg) and maprotiline (75 mg) and placebo in healthy volunteers in a double-blind assay. Maprotiline and mianserin were less active in reducing salivary flow but were more active than amitryptiline and imipramine in reducing finger sweating. The lack of association between these methods for the measurement of the anticholinergic effect of antidepressant drugs is analyzed in terms of possible mechanisms for the control of palmar sweating.