Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Croton nepetaefolius on mice

Abstract

Croton nepetaefolius Baill. is an aromatic plant native to the northeast of Brazil where it is extensively used in folk medicine as a sedative, orexigen and antispasmodic agent. In the present study the antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of C. nepetaefolius (EOCn), administered orally, were evaluated in male Swiss mice (20-25 g). In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, EOCn (100 and 300 mg/kg; N = 14 and N = 12, respectively) was effective at the highest dose. In the hotplate test, EOCn at 30 and 300 mg/kg, but not at 3 mg/kg, significantly increased the latency at all observation times up to the 180th min (N = 12 for each dose). In the formalin test, EOCn significantly reduced paw licking in the second phase of the test at 100 mg/kg (N = 12), but decreased it in both phases at 300 mg/kg (N = 12). At 30 mg/kg, the effect of EOCn did not differ from control values in either phase of the formalin test (N = 6). Pretreatment with naloxone (5 mg/kg, ip) significantly reversed the analgesic effect of morphine (5 mg/kg, sc) on both phases, but not that of EOCn at 300 mg/kg (N = 6) on both phases of the formalin test. The data show that orally administered EOCn promotes a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect whose mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Traditional uses, chemistry and pharmacology of Croton species (Euphorbiaceae)

“…9 Orally administered, the volatile oil of C. nepetaefolius promoted a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in hot-plate test. 158 The aqueous extract of the aerial parts of C. cuneatus had significant activity against plantar inflammation induced by bovine serum albumin. 134 The volatile oil of C. sonderianus had antinociceptive effect in tests with oral administration, but was inactive in hot-plate tests.…”

Diterpenos casbanos e acetofenonas de Croton nepetaefolius (Euphorbiaceae)

“…Esta espécie é largamente utilizada na medicina popular como estomáquico, carminativo e no tratamento de cólicas intestinais, sendo esta últi-ma ação cientificamente comprovada. 25 Estudos fitoquímicos anteriores relatam a presença de terpenóides 26 nesta espécie. Neste trabalho, foi realizada uma reinvestigação fitoquímica de Croton nepetaefolius, que resultou no isolamento dos diterpenos casbeno 1,4-diidroxi-2E,6E,12E-trien-5-ona-casbeno (1) e 4-hidroxi-2E,6E,12E-trien-5-ona-casbeno (2), sendo o segundo inédito na literatura.…”

Atividade antioxidante de óleos essenciais de espécies de Croton do nordeste do Brasil

“…O Croton nepetaefolius é largamente utilizado na medicina popular como estomáquico, carminativo e para cólicas intestinais, sendo esta última ação comprovada cientificamente 16 . Não há informações do uso popular do Croton argyrophylloides conhecido como marmeleiro prateado devido ao aspecto de suas folhas.…”