title: Antinociceptive activity of the essential oil from Artemisia ludoviciana.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aerial parts of Artemisia ludoviciana are widely used in Mexico for treating gastrointestinal disorders, painful complaints and diabetes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To establish the preclinical efficacy as antinociceptive agent of the essential oil (EO) from the aerial parts of A. ludoviciana using well-known animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute antinociceptive effect of EO (1, 10, 31.6, 100, and 316mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated using the hot plate and paw formalin models in mice. The motor effects were assessed with the rota-rod and open field assays. The volatile components obtained by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and hydrodistillation were determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EO decreased first and second phases of formalin test; in the first stage, the better effect was obtained with the treatment of 316mg/kg but in the second phase, time licking was attenuated at the doses of 31.6, 100 and 316mg/kg. The effectiveness of EO (ED50=25.9mg/kg) for attenuating neurogenic pain was corroborated using the hot plate test. The antinociceptive action of EO was blocked by naloxone suggesting that its mode of action involved an opioid mechanism. Furthermore, EO (316mg/kg) did not affect animal motor and coordination functions when tested by the rota-rod and open field tests. The latter results indicated that the pharmacological effects exerted by EO during the hot plate and formalin test are truly antinociceptive. GC-MS analysis of EO revealed that (±)-camphor, γ-terpineol, 1,8-cineole and borneol were the major volatile compounds of the plant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EO from A. ludoviciana showed significant antinociceptive effect, which appeared to be partially mediated by the opioid system. These findings could support the long-term use of A. ludoviciana for treating painful complaints in Mexican folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Gerardo D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Anaya-Eugenio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivero-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bye
authors.affiliation: Jardín Botánico, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F. 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Edelmira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F. 04510, Mexico. Electronic address: rachel@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mata
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001892:Camphanes / Q000032:analysis; D002164:Camphor / Q000032:analysis; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000032:analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000077591:Eucalyptol; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects*; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial / Q000737:chemistry; D045442:Rotarod Performance Test
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D001892:Camphanes; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D009270:Naloxone; C000599268:gamma-terpineol; D002164:Camphor; C022871:isoborneol; D000077591:Eucalyptol
keywords: Artemisia ludoviciana; Gas chromatography; Hot plate test; Mass spectrometry; Paw formalin Test; Volatile composition