Antinociceptive effect of the essential oil of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maham, Masoud; Moslemzadeh, Hemmat; Jalilzadeh-Amin, Ghader
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 52:Number 2(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 208
• Page End: 212
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.824007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context</italic>: Tarragon [<italic>Artemisia dracunculus</italic> L. (Asteraceae)] is used as a commercial flavoring and in perfumery. In traditional folk medicine, tarragon has been used for treatment of pain and gastrointestinal disturbances.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: This study investigated the antinociceptive effect of the essential oil of <italic>A. dracunculus</italic> (EOAD) in various experimental models.</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: The median lethal dose (LD<sub>50</sub>) of EOAD was estimated using the method of Lorke. The antinociceptive effect was assessed using chemical (formalin and acetic acid) and thermal (hot-plate) nociceptive tests in rats and mice. In all experiments, EOAD was administered intraperitoneally at the doses of 10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: In the acute toxicity test, the value of estimated LD<sub>50</sub> for EOAD was 1250 mg/kg. EOAD (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) the pain response in the first (59.5 and 91.4%) and second (52.5 and 86.3%) phases of the formalin test, respectively. Central involvement in analgesic profile was confirmed by the hot-plate test, in which the EOAD showed a significant analgesic activity by increasing latency time. EOAD (10, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) inhibited (89, 95, 97 and 97%) the nociception produced by acetic acid. Naloxone failed to antagonize the antinociceptive effect of the essential oil in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. It seems that mechanism(s) other than opioid receptors is (are) involved in the analgesic effect of EOAD.</p> <p> <italic>Conclusions</italic>: This study reported the peripheral and central antinociceptive activity of the EOAD and rationalized the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of different painful conditions.</p> </abstract>