Abstract
The study analyzes the chemical composition of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Ugni myricoides (Kunth) O. Berg (U. myricoides EO). The composition of the essential oil was characterized by GC‐FID and GC‐MS analysis, showing at least six major constituents: α -pinene (52.1 %), 1,8-cineole (11.9 %), α -humulene (4.6 %), caryophyllene oxide + globulol (4.5 %), humulene epoxide II (4.2 %) and β -caryophyllene (2.9 %). It demonstrates for the first time the systemic anti-hypernociceptive properties of this orally administered oil in inflammatory and neuropathic models of hypernociception in mice. The effects of U. myricoides EO and its major constituent, α -pinene, were compared with those of indomethacin or gabapentin, drugs used clinically to treat inflammatory and neuropathic processes. Like indomethacin (5 or 10 mg/kg, p. o.), U. myricoides EO (5–50 mg/kg, p. o.) was able to significantly prevent mechanical hypernociception induced by carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) in mice. These effects were observed for up to 48 h after i.pl. injection of flogistic agents. Repeated treatment with U. myricoides EO (5–25 mg/kg, p. o.), α -pinene (5–50 mg/kg, p. o.), or gabapentin (70 mg/kg, p. o.) also abolished the mechanical sensitization induced by CFA, or following the partial ligation of the sciatic nerve (PLSN). The present results indicate that U. myricoides EO produces marked anti-hypernociceptive effects in carrageenan and CFA mechanical sensitization models, and also inhibited neuropathic pain-like behavior after PLSN with efficacy similar to that observed for indomethacin or gabapentin. The relevant effects shown by U. myricoides EO are related, at least in part, to the presence of α -pinene and may be of potential interest for the management of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Key words
Ugni myricoides (Kunth) O. Berg - Myrtaceae - essential oil -
α ‐pinene - chronic pain - inflammatory pain - neuropathic pain
References
Eugenia uniflora L. (Pitanga): propriedades farmacobotânicas, químicas e farmacológicas.
Rev Inst Adolfo Lutz.
2003;
62
55-61
Psidium guajava leaf essential oil and its major constituents.
Phytother Res.
1998;
12
24-27
Psidium guajava Linn. (Myrtaceae) leaf aqueous extract in rats and mice.
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol.
2006;
28
441-446
Syzygium jambos leaves extract on rats.
J Ethnopharmacol.
2007;
112
380-385
Plinia glomerata .
Z Naturforsch C.
2007;
62
196-200
Ugni Turcz. (Myrtaceae) na Amazônia Brasileira.
Acta Amazonica.
2004;
34
139-141
Ugni molinae .
Bioorg Med Chem.
2006;
14
5673-5677
Ugni molinae (murtilla) in mice models of acute pain.
J Ethnopharmacol.
2007;
112
162-165
Chemistry of essential oils. Berger RG Flavours and fragrances. Chemistry, bioprocessing and sustainability. Berlin; Springer 2007
Pistacia vera L.
J Ethnopharmacol.
2006;
105
235-240
Tilia x viridis flower extract on the proliferation of a lymphoma cell line and on normal murine lymphocytes: contribution of monoterpenes, especially limonene.
Phytother Res.
2008;
22
1520-1526
Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves, in rodents.
Planta Med.
2007;
73
1247-1254
Cinnamomum osmophloeum .
J Agric Food Chem.
2005;
53
7274-7278
Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam leaves.
Eur J Pharmacol.
2007;
576
180-188
Cordia verbenacea .
Eur J Pharmacol.
2007;
569
228-236
Cordia verbenacea on the acute inflammatory responses elicited by LPS in the rat paw.
Br J Pharmacol.
2007;
151
618-627
Hyptis fruticosa in mice.
Fitoterapia.
2007;
78
192-195
Cordia verbenacea .
J Ethnopharmacol.
2007;
110
323-333
Cinnamomum insularimontanum Hayata.
Bioresour Technol.
2008;
99
8783-8787
Eremanthus erythropappus leaves.
J Pharm Pharmacol.
2008;
60
771-777
Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oil in experimental animal models.
J Med Food.
2008;
11
741-746
narafarmaco@yahoo.com.br
