Synergistic Antinociceptive Effect of β-Caryophyllene Oxide in Combination with Paracetamol, and the Corresponding Gastroprotective Activity

Abstract

Pain is the most frequent symptom of disease. In treating pain, a lower incidence of adverse effects is found for paracetamol versus other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nevertheless, paracetamol can trigger side effects when taken regularly. Combined therapy is a common way of lowering the dose of a drug and thus of reducing adverse reactions. Since β-caryophyllene oxide (a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene) is known to produce an analgesic effect, this study aimed to determine the anti-nociceptive and gastroprotective activity of administering the combination of paracetamol plus β-caryophyllene oxide to CD1 mice. Anti-nociception was evaluated with the formalin model and gastroprotection with the model of ethanol-induced gastric lesions. According to the isobolographic analysis, the anti-nociceptive interaction of paracetamol and β-caryophyllene oxide was synergistic. Various pain-related pathways were explored for their possible participation in the mechanism of action of the anti-nociceptive effect of β-caryophyllene oxide, finding that NO, opioid receptors, serotonin receptors, and K+ATP channels are not involved. The combined treatment showed gastroprotective activity against ethanol-induced gastric damage. Hence, the synergistic anti-nociceptive effect of combining paracetamol with β-caryophyllene oxide could be advantageous for the management of inflammatory pain, and the gastroprotective activity should help to protect against the adverse effects of chronic use.