Experimental study of various central nervous system effects of eugenol in mice and rats

Abstract

Background: Eugenol is an essential component of many medicinal herbs. It is a member of the allylbenzene class of chemical compounds. Since years, it is being used in dental practice to relieve pain arising from pulpitis and dentinal hypersensitivity. There are few reports of anticonvulsant effect but further effects are less reported. Lack of comprehensive studies and data of eugenol on the central nervous system effects in animal models thus necessitates further research activities. Objective: To observe and evaluate various neuropharmacological effects like antinociceptive effect, anticonvulsant effect, effect on motor co-ordination, pentobarbital induced sleeping time and anxiolytic effect of eugenol in mice and rats. Methods: It was a quantitative experimental study done in the laboratory setting of the department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. For each test, respective animal models were used. Animals were divided into three groups of six each, group I as control, group II as standard control and group III as test group. Results: Significant effects were observed in analgesic, anticonvulsant and sedative model whereas no significant effect as compared to control was observed in test of motor co-ordination and in behavioral models. Conclusion: This study shows eugenol to possess analgesic, anticonvulsant and sedative effect whereas it didn't have any effect on models of anxiety. Various target sites have been implicated but this study doesn't conclude a plausible mechanism behind all these observed effects.

Hypnotic Effect of Ocimum basilicum on Pentobarbital-Induced Sleep in Mice

“…Linck and coworkers demonstrated that linalool increases barbiturate-induced sleeping time in mice ( 23 ). Similarly, the sleep-prolonging effect of eugenol was reported by Sharma et al ( 22 ). Rosmarinic acid is found in methanolic extract of O. basilicum and can be isolated from the NBF of plant extracts ( 24 , 25 ).…”

“…A wide variety of phytochemicals has been reported to have sedative-hypnotic effects. These include terpenoids (e.g., linalool, eugenol), flavonoids (e.g., quercetrin, luteolin), alkaloids (e.g., rosmarinic acid), steroids (e.g., beta-sitisterol), and saponins ( 21 , 22 ). It has been shown that O. basilicum contains high amounts of linalool, eugenol, and rosmarinic acid ( 7 ).…”

Hydroalcoholic Extract of Cuscuta Epithymum Enhances Pentobarbitalinduced Sleep: Possible Involvement of GABAergic System

“…linalool), steroids, and flavonoids (e.g. quercetrin) (Edewor-Kuponiyi, 2013 ▶ ; Sharmaet al, 2012 ▶ ). Previous studies have revealed that P. eldarica needles contain terpenoids as well as some flavonoids such as quercetin (Kaundun et al, 1997 ▶ ; Lee, 2008 ▶ ).…”

Kampo Medicine: Evaluation of the Pharmacological Activity of 121 Herbal Drugs on GABAA and 5-HT3A Receptors

“…The sixth-strongest potentiation was observed by the clove tincture [ Syzygium aromaticum (flos)], which has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anesthetic effects ( Chaieb et al, 2007 ). In vivo , eugenol, the main ingredient of the clove tincture, exhibits a sedative effect in mice and rats ( Guenette et al, 2006 ; Sharma et al, 2012 ) and has also been shown to potentiate the effects of the GABA A receptor in vitro ( Aoshima and Hamamoto, 1999 ). Other potentiators were also identified, including carvacrol and thymol ( Priestley et al, 2003 ; Kessler et al, 2014 ).…”