Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Family Lamiaceae), popularly named rosemary, is a common household plant grown in many parts of the world, including Brazil. Rosemary leaves are used for food flavoring and have been used in folk medicine for many conditions; they have antispasmodic, analgesic, antirheumatic, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, and antiepileptic effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rosemary essential oil (REO) on experimental models of nociception and inflammation in animals. The anti-inflammatory effect of REO was evaluated by inflammatory exudate volume and leukocyte migration in carrageenan-induced pleurisy and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests in rats. Antinociception was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests in mice. REO (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the volume of pleural exudate and slightly decreased the number of cells that had migrated compared with the control animals. At doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg, REO significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced edema 1-4 hours after injection of the phlogistic agent. In the hot plate test, REO administration (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) showed unremarkable effects on response latency, whereas control injection of meperidine induced significant antinociceptive effects. REO at doses of 70, 125, and 250 mg/kg had a significant antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test compared with control animals. These data suggest that REO possesses anti-inflammatory and peripheral antinociceptive activity.
Ginger, Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae), in folk medicine has been used against pain, inflammation, arthritis, urinary infections, and gastrointestinal disorders. [1] The oil of ginger is a mixture of constituents, consisting of monoterpenes (phellandrene, camphene, cineole, citral, and borneol) and sesquiterpenes (zingiberene, zingiberol, zingiberenol, ß-bisabolene, sesquiphellandrene, and others). Aldehydes and alcohols are also present. [1,2] Gingerol and its analogs found in rhizome extracts are responsible for many pharmacological activities. [1] Few works have reported the properties of ginger essential oil (GEO). However, several types of terpene compounds are known to present antiinflammatory and antinoceptive activities. [1,2] The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiinflammatory and analgesic effects of GEO administered orally in rodents. Groups of 10 male Swiss mice (25-30 g) and male Wistar rats (190-230 g) were used for evaluation of the antinoceptive and antiinflammatory effects, respectively. All animals were housed in groups of five and maintained in standardized conditions (12/12 h light/dark cycle, 25°C) with free access to water and food. The protocol for these experiments was approved and was in accordance with the guidelines of the Brazilian Committee of Animal Experimentation. Fresh rhizomes of Z. officinale were collected from the herbarium of the State University of Maringá, identified, and authenticated. GEO was obtained from 250 g of rhizomes by conventional steam distillation using Clevenger apparatus during 3 h. The oil obtained was kept refrigerated and protected form direct light. Pleurisy was induced in anesthetized mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of carrageenan (200 µg/cavity). Four hours later, the rats were sacrificed and the exudate was collected to determine the total volume and leukocyte number. Exudates smears were prepared, air-dried, and fixed with Rosenfeld stain for leukocyte differential count. The parameters studied were leukocyte migration and fluid leakage. GEO (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered 30 min before the test. The antinociceptive activity of the GEO was assessed using the writhing test. Acetic acid solution (10 ml/kg, 0.6%) was i.p. injected and abdominal muscles constriction together with stretching of the hind limbs was counted over a period of 20 min, starting immediately after acetic acid injection. GEO (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (5 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered 30 min before the acid injection. Antinociceptive activity was expressed as the percentage of
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.