Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the essential oil from leaves of Xylopia laevigata in experimental models

ScientificWorldJournal. 2014:2014:816450. doi: 10.1155/2014/816450. Epub 2014 Jul 3.

Abstract

Xylopia laevigata (Annonaceae) is a medicinal plant used in folk medicine to treat pain and inflammation. Thus, we investigated the possible antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory effects of X. laevigata leaf essential oil (EOX) in animal models. Our EOX sample showed the presence of γ-muurolene (17.78%), δ-cadinene (12.23%), bicyclogermacrene (7.77%), and α-copaene (7.17%) as main compounds. EOX presented a strong antioxidant potential according to the DPPH, TBARS, and nitrite production tests. Additionally, pretreatment with EOX, in mice, also significantly produced (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001) antinociceptive effect by reduction of nociceptive behavior (in formalin and writhing tests). The EOX showed c-Fos label in the olfactory bulb, piriform cortex, and periaqueductal gray. Acute administration of EOX exhibited a significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.001) anti-inflammatory profile in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis and by the carrageenan-induced hindpaw edema tests in mice. Our results provide evidence for the use of X. laevigata by traditional medicine practitioners in the management of pain and inflammatory disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nociception / drug effects
  • Oils, Volatile / chemistry
  • Oils, Volatile / pharmacology*
  • Oils, Volatile / therapeutic use
  • Peritonitis / drug therapy
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • Sesquiterpenes / analysis
  • Xylopia / chemistry*

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Extracts
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • Sesquiterpenes