title: Antinociceptive activity of carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol) is a monoterpenic phenol which is present in the essential oil of oregano and thyme. We have investigated the behavioural effects of carvacrol in animal models of pain, such as acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, formalin and hot-plate tests in mice. The spontaneous motor activity of animals treated with carvacrol was investigated using open-field and rotarod tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Carvacrol was administered orally, at single doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg while indometacin (5 mg/kg), morphine (7.5 mg/kg) and diazepam (2 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs. Naloxone (1 mg/kg) and l-arginine (150 mg/kg) were used to elucidate the possible antinociceptive mechanism of carvacrol on acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that carvacrol produced significant inhibitions on nociception in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction, formalin and hot-plate tests. In the open-field and rotarod tests carvacrol did not significantly impair the motor performance. The effect of the highest dose of carvacrol in mice in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin tests were not reversed by naloxone or l-arginine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on these results, it has been suggested that carvacrol presents antinociceptive activity that may not act through the opioid system nor through inhibition of the nitric oxide pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Cel. Nunes de Melo, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. helvira.melo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Francisca Helvira
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Cavalcante Melo
authors.forename: Emiliano Ricardo Vasconcelos
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.forename: Nayrton Flávio Moura
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Citó
authors.forename: Mariana Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Damião Pergentino
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Silvânia Maria Mendes
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Francisca Cléa Florenço
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D000081007:Cymenes; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031341:Origanum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005557:Formaldehyde; D009270:Naloxone; D001120:Arginine; C073316:carvacrol; D019342:Acetic Acid