ABSTRACT
The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (ROL) extract and its major constituent, carnosol in male NMRI mice (W:25-30 g) have been evaluated in the present study. Formalin (2%, 20 microL) was injected into the plantar portion of the hind paw and resulting pain and inflammation was studied for 60 min. The plant extract, carnosol and other drugs were administered intraperitoneally or subcutaneously 30 min before formalin injection. In a separate experiment, the effects of the extract and carnosol on plasma corticosterone levels and activity of the enzymes cyclooxygenase type 1 and 2 (COX1 and COX2) were investigated. Injection of different doses of ROL and carnosol reduced pain in the phase 2 of the formalin test, which was not inhibited by naloxone and/or memantine. In addition, pretreatment of the animals with ROL and/or carnosol reduces the formalin-induced inflammation. Furthermore, the extract and carnosol did not affect plasma corticosterone levels compared with the control group. Interestingly, both the extract and carnosol inhibited COX1 and COX2 activity. It could be concluded that ROL extract and carnosol suppressed pain and inflammation induced by formalin injection, which may be due to inhibition of COX1 and COX2 enzymes activity.
Subject(s)
Abietanes/pharmacology , Alcohols/chemistry , Analgesics/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Inflammation/prevention & control , Pain/prevention & control , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Rosmarinus , Solvents/chemistry , Abietanes/administration & dosage , Analgesics/administration & dosage , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/administration & dosage , Corticosterone/blood , Cyclooxygenase 1/metabolism , Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism , Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors/pharmacology , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Formaldehyde , Inflammation/blood , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/enzymology , Injections, Intraperitoneal , Injections, Subcutaneous , Male , Membrane Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Mice , Pain/blood , Pain/chemically induced , Pain/enzymology , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plants, MedicinalABSTRACT
The effects of saffron ethanolic extract and its constituent, safranal, on the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced place preference (CPP) in male Swiss Webster mice (20-25 g) were investigated in the present study. An unbiased place conditioning method was applied for assessment of morphine reward properties. The saffron extract and safranal were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) during (acquisition) or after induction (expression) of morphine CPP. In a pilot study, the extract and safranal were alone administered to the animals to assess if they have any reward properties. Subcutaneous (s.c.) of morphine (4 and 8 mg kg(-1)) and extract (50 mg kg(-1); i.p.) induced CPP. Extract (10, 50 and 100 mg kg(-1); i.p.) reduced the acquisition and expression of morphine CPP. The same results were obtained when safranal (1, 5 and 10 mg kg(-1), i.p.) was used. It may be concluded that both ethanolic saffron extract and safranal can inhibit the acquisition and expression of morphine-induced CPP in the mice.
