Antinociceptive mechanisms of Bunium persicum essential oil in the mouse writhing test

Antinociceptive profiles of Bunium persicum B.Fedtsch. were examined in NMRI mice. Essential oil of Bunium persicum administered intraperitoneally (0.001, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1%; 10ml/kg) in Tween-80(0.5%) showed an antinociceptive effect in a dose-dependent manner as measured by writhing test as a model of visceral pain. Furthermore to reveal the antinociceptive mechanisms of Bunium persicum, we examined the effect of opioidergic, serotonergic, and histamine receptor antagonists on Bunium persicum -induced antinociception. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment with naloxone, chlorpheniramine and cimetidine attenuated inhibition of the pain response induced by Bunium persicum. However, cyproheptadine did not affect inhibition of the pain response induced by Bunium persicum. Our results suggest that Bunium persicum shows an antinociceptive property in writhing test. Furthermore, antinociception of Bunium persicum may be mediated by opioidergic and histamine H1 and H2 receptors.