title: In vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Rosmarinus officinalis aqueous extracts, rosmarinic acid and its acetyl ester derivative.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite several pharmacological applications of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), studies on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties have been scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to use in vivo models to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extracts obtained from leaves (AEL) and stems (AES) of Rosmarinus officinalis, as well as its isolated compound--rosmarinic acid (RA). We also prepared and assessed the acetyl ester derivative of RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analgesic activity was evaluated using abdominal constriction and formalin tests. For the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects, carrageenin-induced paw edema in rats were used. The extracts were used at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg kg⁻¹ compounds were tested at 10, 20 and 40 mg kg⁻¹.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Orally administered AEL, AES and RA were not significantly active at any of the doses tested during the abdominal constriction test; the acetyl ester derivative of RA displayed significant analgesic activity. In the carrageenin-induced paw edema assay, the acetyl derivative of RA at all the tested doses produced significant anti-inflammatory effects and reduced the number of paw licks in the second phase of the formalin test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the analgesic effects of the acetyl derivative of RA operate via a peripheral-mediated mechanism. The acetyl ester derivative of RA is potentially applicable as a new lead compound for the management of pain and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Pesquisas em Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucarini
authors.forename: Wagner A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.forename: Daniele S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Marcos G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Tozatti
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Jairo K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Patrícia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pauletti
authors.forename: Ana H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Januário
authors.forename: Márcio L Andrade E
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Wilson R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053630:Depsides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020078:Neurogenic Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid