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Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene α,β-epoxy-carvone in mice

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), Av. Transnordestina, S/N, Novo Horizonte, Feira de Santana, Bahia, 44036-900, Brazil

    Marilene L. da Rocha

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, State University of Southwestern Bahia (UESB), Jequié, Bahia, Brazil

    Leandra E. G. Oliveira

  3. Postgraduate Program in Natural Products and Synthetic Bioactive Compounds, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    Marilene L. da Rocha, Leandra E. G. Oliveira, Camila C. M. Patrício Santos, Reinaldo N. de Almeida & Demetrius A. M. Araújo

  4. Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe (UFS), Aracajú, Sergipe, Brazil

    Damião P. de Sousa

  5. Department of Education and Health, Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Cuité, Paraíba, Brazil

    Camila C. M. Patrício Santos

  6. Center of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraíba, Cidade universitaria, Campus I, João Pessoa, Paraíba, 58051-900, Brazil

    Demetrius A. M. Araújo

Authors
  1. Marilene L. da Rocha
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  2. Leandra E. G. Oliveira
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  3. Camila C. M. Patrício Santos
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  5. Reinaldo N. de Almeida
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  6. Demetrius A. M. Araújo
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Correspondence to Marilene L. da Rocha or Demetrius A. M. Araújo.

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da Rocha, M.L., Oliveira, L.E.G., Patrício Santos, C.C.M. et al. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the monoterpene α,β-epoxy-carvone in mice. J Nat Med 67, 743–749 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-012-0738-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-012-0738-8

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