Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene α,ß-epoxy-carvone in mice.

α,ß-Epoxy-carvone (EC) is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of many species of plants. It can also be obtained by organic synthesis. EC exerts a depressant effect on the central nervous system and is also known to have anticonvulsant, antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of EC. Intraperitoneal administration of EC at doses of 100, 200 or 300 mg/kg promoted a significant antinociceptive effect, as shown in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test. EC also provoked a reduction in formalin-induced nociception in the first (300 mg/kg) and second phases (200 and 300 mg/kg). In the hot-plate test, an increase in response latency was found at 30 min (at 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg), and at 60 and 120 min (at 300 mg/kg) following administration of EC, an effect that was reversed by naloxone. Intraperitoneal administration of EC (300 mg/kg) inhibited the increased vascular permeability provoked by acetic acid. These findings suggest that EC inhibited the acute inflammatory reaction, with a pronounced peripheral and central antinociceptive effect in mice that is probably associated with activation of the opioidergic system, which appears to play a role in the antinociceptive activity induced by EC.

Pharmacokinetics of the venom of Bothrops erythromelas labeled with 131I in mice.

Bothrops erythromelas venom (BeV) has been responsible for many snake accidents in Brazil. We investigated the plasmatic pharmacokinetic of BeV labeled with (131)I in the absence and the presence of anti-Bothrops serum (BAS). A higher percentage of BeV plasmatic radioactivity and longer elimination were found in the presence of BAS. Our results showed a redistribution of venom from the tissue to vascular compartment associated with the treatment of envenomed mice with anti-venom 15 min after venom injection.