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.
ResumoIntrodução: Plantas medicinais são bastante utilizadas no contexto da medicina popular na Bahia. Estas plantas são consideradas medicinais por suas propriedades terapêuticas e são amplamente comercializadas em feiras livres, mercados e usos religiosos diversos. Dentre as quais, Vismia guianensis pertence à família Clusiaceae e se encontra bem distribuída nas regiões Norte e Nordeste do Brasil. Esta planta é conhecida também como lacre ou capianga e utilizada na indústria de corantes e madeira por possuir um látex alaranjado bastante resinoso. Objetivo: Avaliar a atividade antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória do extrato hexânico de Vismia guianensis. Metodologia: Foi utilizado o extrato hexânico das folhas de Vismia guianensis em modelos de indução algésica em camundongos. Inicialmente, foi realizada uma triagem farmacológica para observar possíveis efeitos da droga sobre o Sistema Nervoso Central dos animais. Em seguida, foram utilizados como modelos de indução algésica o teste de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético e o teste da formalina. Resultados e Conclusão: O extrato testado reduziu significativamente as contorções abdominais e o tempo de lambida da pata, demonstrando que possui atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória.
The treatment of diseases with animal resources or their derivatives is a traditional practice worldwide, representing a wide field of research for the elaboration of strategies of management and conservation of the fauna, and contributing to the search for sustainable therapy alternatives. This study presents the therapeutic applications of animal fats to the treatment of several diseases in Pimenteiras do Oeste, state of Rondônia, Brazil. Twelve animals including: mammals, fishes, reptiles and birds are reported as a source of medicinal lard for the treatment of respiratory illnesses (asthma, flu, bronchitis, cough), rheumatism, and earache and as a healing agent (dislocation and wounds). The ethnopharmacological focus of the study was on Green-anaconda fat (Eunectes murinus), which stands out for its frequent local use and the lack of previous chemical studies. The chemical composition of E. murinus fat was analyzed by gas and liquid chromatography, both coupled to mass spectrometry. The main fatty acids identified were oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids, which were also predominant in the composition of the triglycerides. Pharmacological analysis of Green-anaconda fat showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect, which is related to its use by traditional communities. Having confirmed the pharmacological potential of Green-anaconda fat, its fatty acid composition was used as a parameter in the search for vegetable oils from the Amazon Region with a similar composition. This comparative analysis can be of help by proposing therapeutic alternatives for the Amazonian population. The use of plant sources can contribute to the conservation of the aforementioned species.
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