Chemical composition and analgesic activity of Senecio rufinervis essential oil.
BACKGROUND
Senecio rufinervis D.C (Asteraceae) is a tall aromatic herb, commonly found in Uttarakhand, India. No investigations on the biological activity of this plant have been published so far. Hence, this plant species became a subject of our scientific interest.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the chemical composition and analgesic activity of Senecio rufinervis essential oil in mice using both thermal and chemical models of pain.


METHODS
Essential oil from dried leaves of Senecio rufinervis was extracted by steam distillation and then subjected to GC-MS analysis. Varying doses of essential oil were given to mice, 30 min prior to the induction of abdominal constrictions and determination of mean reaction time in hot-plate maintained at 55° ± 0.5°C.


RESULTS
The main component detected in the essential oil of Senecio rufinervis was germacrene D (40.19%) followed by β-pinene (12.23%), β-caryophyllene (6.21%) and β-longipinene (4.15%). Essential oil exhibited significant and dose-dependent analgesic activity against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice. The percentage inhibition in number of writhes produced by 25, 50 and 75 mg/kg doses was, respectively, 69, 80 and 85%. The oil, at doses 50 and 75 mg/kg, significantly increased the mean latency in the hot-plate after 15 and 30 min of drug administration as compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The results depicted both central and peripheral analgesic activity of S. rufinervis essential oil which was attributed to the presence of terpenes.
Mishra
Devendra
D
Department of Applied Chemistry, Birla Institute of Applied Sciences, Bhimtal, Nainital. mishra.d123@gmail.com
Bisht
Ganga
G
Mazumdar
Papiya Mitra
PM
Sah
Sangeeta Pilkhwal
SP
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test; D012674:Senecio / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000081008:Bicyclic Monoterpenes; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D045788:Sesquiterpenes, Germacrane; C010789:beta-pinene; C024714:caryophyllene; C027259:germacrene D