title: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene α,β-epoxy-carvone in mice.
abstract: α,β-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.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), Av. Transnordestina, S/N, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 44036-900, Brazil, mlrochaph@gmail.com.
authors: Marilene L
authors: ML
authors: da Rocha
authors: Leandra E G
authors: LE
authors: Oliveira
authors: Camila C M
authors: CC
authors: Patrício Santos
authors: Damião P
authors: DP
authors: de Sousa
authors: Reinaldo N
authors: RN
authors: de Almeida
authors: Demetrius A M
authors: DA
authors: Araújo
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000081005:Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; C587375:alpha,beta-epoxy-carvone; D005557:Formaldehyde; D019342:Acetic Acid