title: Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of extracts of Sonchus oleraceus L. in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sonchus oleraceus L. has been used to relieve pain in Brazilian folk medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Sonchus oleraceus L. has been used to relieve pain in Brazilian folk medicine. This study was conducted to establish the antinociceptive properties of hydroethanolic and dichloromethane extracts from aerial parts of Sonchus oleraceus in mice using chemical and thermal models of nociception.
  
  
  METHODS
  The formalin, hot plate, and tail immersion tests as well as acetic acid-induced writhing were used to investigate the antinociceptive activity in mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Given orally, the extracts at test doses of 30-300 mg/kg, produced significant inhibitions on chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid and subplantar formalin since decreased the number of writhing episodes and the time licking. Treatment with the extracts in the same doses produced a significant increase of the reaction time in tail immersion and in the hot plate test. The extracts administered at 300 mg/kg, p.o. had a stronger antinociceptive effect than indomethacin (5mg/kg, p.o.) and morphine (10mg/kg, p.o.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extracts of Sonchus oleraceus markedly demonstrated antinociceptive action in mice, which supports previous claims of its traditional use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Science, Federal University of Alfenas-MG, 37130-000 Alfenas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Cardoso
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Vilela
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Mesquita Padilha
authors.forename: Lucas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dos Santos-E-Silva
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alves-da-Silva
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giusti-Paiva
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031184:Sonchus
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009020:Morphine; D019342:Acetic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin