Farnesol: antinociceptive effect and histopathological analysis of the striatum and hippocampus of mice

Abstract

Farnesol, a sesquiterpene alcohol, has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies have found that antioxidant compounds may exert a certain protective effect against neurotoxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of farnesol (FAR) and its neurotoxic effects on the brains of adult mice. In this study, two mouse models of analgesia were used to evaluate FAR at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, injected intraperitoneally (i.p.). In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, a significant decrease was found in the number of contortions in the FAR-treated mice at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. FAR was also found to inhibit the licking response in the injected paw at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (i.p.) in the first (0-5 min) and second phases (15-30 min) of the formalin test. To evaluate neurotoxic effects, Swiss mice were treated with 0.9% saline (i.p., control group), 0.05 Tween 80 dissolved in 0.9% saline (i.p., vehicle group), and FAR 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, i.p. Following treatment, all groups were observed for 72 h. In the FAR 200-mg group, 16% of the animals suffered brain injury that affected 12% of the area of the hippocampus. No lesions were found in the hippocampal and striatal regions of the brain in any of the animals treated with the 50 and 100 mg/kg doses of FAR. In conclusion, FAR exerts an antinociceptive effect with no significant neurotoxicity in the brains of adult mice.

Analgesic-Like Activity of Essential Oil Constituents: An Update

“…In the formalin test, FAR was capable to inhibit both phases of the pain stimulus at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. These results indicate that FAR possesses antinociceptive activity and this effect was similar to that found with centrally-acting analgesic drugs, like morphine and tramadol [ 226 ].…”

Nerolidol exhibits antinociceptive and anti‐inflammatory activity: involvement of the GABAergic system and proinflammatory cytokines

“…They exhibit diverse biological activity, including hepatoprotective [7], anticonvulsive [8], and antitumoral [9] actions. In particular, the antinociceptive activity of the sesquiterpenes is especially important and has been demonstrated in previous studies [10,11].…”

Farnesol Exerts Protective Effects against Chronic Sleep Deprivation‐Induced Cognitive Impairment via Activation SIRT1/Nrf2 Pathway in the Hippocampi of Adult Mice

“…[40,41] FOL decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and microglial activation, which is a possible mechanism responsible for its neuroprotective effects. FOL has also been reported to have antinociceptive effect, [42] anxiolytic and depressant, [43] anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidant, [24] and antiepileptic effects. [44] The mechanism of FOL's neuroprotective effect may involve calcium channel inhibition, reduction of oxidative stress, attenuation of the inflammasome response, and reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, some of which have been previously supported by another study.…”