@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2015;20(4):209-214

Background
… [1-5] Ziziphora tenuior L. is of Lamiaceae family [6]. Treatment of gastrointestinal disorders is one of its medical characteristics [7, 8]. ZIziphora has anti-bacterial effects [9, 10], anti-oxidant effects [6, 11], intestinal decontamination effects [7, 10, 12], and anti-cold effects [13]. Pulegone is one of the main and active chemical compounds of the herb with well-known analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects [14, 15]. Pulegone can be used to treat fever and menstrual pain [16].
Previous Studies
Some studies relate analgesic effects of Lamiaceae family to compounds such as carvacrol, flavonoids, and steroids [17]. There are some reports about the utilization of opioidregic and serotonergic systems in the analgesic effects of the medical herbs [14]. … [18]
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Ziziphora tenuior L. on pain being compared with diclofenac in Wistar male rats.
Research type
This is an experimental study.
Research society, place and time
Wistar male rats weighing 280±20g (Laboratory Animals Research Center of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences; Iran) were studied in 2013.
Sampling method and number
72 rats were studied.
Used devices&materials
The animals were kept at 12-hour light/darkness cycle at 23±2°C. The rats were fed by enough food and water. The rats were divided into nine 8-sample groups including “C” (Control group received no material), “P” (Placebo group received water and alcohol), “PC” (Positive Control group received 25mg/kg diclofenac), “K400” (group received 400mg/kg Ziziphra extract), “K800” (group received 800mg/kg Ziziphora extract), “K1600” (group received 1600mg/kg ZIziphora extract), “DK1600” (group received 0.4mg/kg diclofenac and 1600mg/kg Ziziphora extract simultaneously), “N” (Group received naloxone), and “M” (group received morphine). Extracting was done through soxhlet method. To investigate analgesic effects, formalin test was used [19]. Control group underwent formalin test only. Placebo group received water and alcohol as solvent. Positive control group received 25mg/kg diclofenac (DarouPakhsh; Iran). The extract groups received 400, 800, and 1600mg/kg doses of the extract [20]. 0.4mg/kg diclofenac (15min before formalin injection) and 1600mg/kg dose of the extract (the effective dose of the extract) [21] were simultaneously administrated to extract and diclofenac group. Morphine group received 0.4mg/kg morphine (DAROOYAB; Iran), and naloxone group received 2mg/kg naloxone (Sigma; USA) as intra-peritoneal injection [22] as an antagonist for opioidergic system 30min before injection of the most effective dose of the extract. All groups received diclofenac as oral. The animals underwent formalin injection 15min after each oral administration. Formalin having been injected into the right feet of the animals, their movements were recorded and investigated at two intervals including “the first 5min after injection” (severe pain period) and “from the minute 45 to the minute 60” (chronic pain period). Data was analyzed, using SPSS 22 software. Tukey Post-hoc test was used to investigate the significant difference between the groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare pain severities in different groups. … [23]
Findings by Text
There was a significant reduction in the pain score in PC group (2.20±0.58) than C group (2.39±0.89). Nevertheless, there was no significant difference between pain severities in P (3.24±0.43) and in control groups. There was a significant reduction in pain severity in K400 (1.96±0.13), K800 (1.85±0.12), and K1600 (1.26±0.94) groups than control group, in which maximum effect was observed by 1600mg/kg doses (Diagram 1). There was a higher and significant reduction in pain response in DK1600 group (1.21±0.74) than other groups. As an inhibitor for the opioidic system, naloxone pretreatment (2.20±0.40) led to a significant reduction in the analgesic effects of the extract compared with control group alone. There was a significant reduction in the pain score of the group received morphine (1.23±0.01) than control group.
Main comparison to the similar studies
Formalin test was used as pain model in the animals. Analgesic effects of D. kotschyi are due to some compounds like limonene and alpha-terpineol [23]. Terpineol inhibits action potential in the sciatic nerve of the rat [16]. Compounds such as carvacrol, flavonoids, and steroids in the Lamiaceae family can lead to pain reduction [24]. Pain in the severe stage of formalin test is more reduced by hydro-alcoholic extract of oregano leaves than the chronic pain [25]. There are too many analgesic effects of pulegone and limonene of Mentha × villosa than the effects of the monoterpenes of it in the formalin test [14]. There is a significant reduction in eye inflammation caused by lens protein due to the local and gradual administration of pulegone [15]. … [26] The anti-oxidative and anti-genotoxic effects of methanol extract of oregano herb on human lymphocytes have been shown [27]. … [28, 29] Oregano extracts have powerful anti-oxidant effects [30]. … [31-34]
Suggestions
Different compounds in Ziziphora, which cause analgesic effect, should be completely investigated.
Limitations
There was no limitation.
Conclusions
Ziziphora reduces pain, and its activity is probably due some compounds like limonene and specially, pulegon.
Acknowledgments
Research Council of Sistan and Balouchestan Jahad-e-Daneshgahi, Research Deputy of Zahedan Jahad-e- Daneshgahi, and Zahedan University of Medical Sciences are appreciated.
Conflict of interest
Non-declared
Ethical Permissions
Ethics Committee of the university confirmed the study.
Funding Sources
Jahad-e-Daneshgahi (Sistan and Balouchestan branch) funded the study.

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