title: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil (Olea europeae L.) in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Olive [Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae)] is a long-lived evergreen tree that is widespread in different parts of the world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Olive oil has been reported to relieve pain; however, there is still insufficient data in the literature on the subject. Thus, it is considered worthwhile investigating the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil in adult male Balb/C mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antinociceptive effects were studied using formalin, hot plate and writhing tests. The acute anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil in mice were studied using xylene ear edema test. Olive oil (1, 5 and 10 ml/kg body wt.) was injected intraperitoneally. Intact animals served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the olive oil only decreased the second phase of formalin-induced pain. In the hot plate test, olive oil did not raise the pain threshold over the 60 min duration of the test. Olive oil exhibited antinociceptive activity against writhing-induced pain by acetic acid. In the xylene ear edema test, olive oil showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in the mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data indicated that olive oil has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice but further investigation of these effects is required to elucidate the mechanism(s) involved in analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Olea europaea oil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. eidi@srbiau.ac.ir
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eidi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moghadam-kia
authors.forename: Jalal Zarringhalam
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Moghadam
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eidi
authors.forename: Shamsali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rezazadeh
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils