(؊)-Carvone is a monoterpene ketone that is the main active component of Mentha plant species like Mentha spicata. This study aimed to investigate the antinociceptive activity of (؊)-carvone using different experimental models of pain and to investigate whether such effects might be involved in the nervous excitability elicited by others monoterpenes. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, we observed that (؊)-carvone-treated mice exhibited a significant decrease in the number of writhes when 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered. It was also demonstrated that (؊)-carvone inhibited the licking response of the injected paw when 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered (i.p.) to mice in the first and second phases of the formalin test. Since naloxone (5 mg/kg, s.c.), an opioid antagonist, showed no influence on the antinociceptive action of (؊)-carvone (100 mg/kg), this suggested nonparticipation of the opioid system in the modulation of pain induced by (؊)-carvone. Such results were unlikely to be provoked by motor abnormality, since (؊)-carvone-treated mice did not exhibit any performance alteration on the Rota-rod apparatus. Because the antinociceptive effects could be associated with neuronal excitability inhibition, we performed the single sucrose gap technique and observed that (؊)-carvone (10 mM) was able to reduce the excitability of the isolated sciatic nerve through a diminution of the compound action potential amplitude by about 50% from control recordings. We conclude that (؊)-carvone has antinociceptive activity associated with decreased peripheral nerve excitability.

The central effects of hydroxydihydrocarvone (HC), an analogue of several monoterpenes, were evaluated in animal models. General behavior, locomotor activity, pentobarbital-induced sleeping time, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced convulsions, and acetic acid-induced writhing were evaluated in mice. The compound caused palpebral ptosis, decreased the response to touch, and increased sedation (general behavioral profile). HC (50-200 mg/kg) caused a significant dose-dependent decrease in the spontaneous motor activity of mice. This compound (100, 200 mg/kg) potentiated the pentobarbital sleeping time, indicating a depressant action. HC also protected the mice against PTZ-induced convulsions at 400 mg/kg. In the acetic acid-induced writhing, the antinociceptive activity of HC was demonstrated with a significant dose-dependent response at a dose range of 25-400 mg/kg. The present results provide evidence that HC has significant psychopharmacologic activity with depressant effects.

/kg, s.c.). The effect of HC on the formalin and hot plate tests was not blocked by naloxone. Therefore, HC has an antinociceptive effect on the central nervous system without causing catalepsy. These results suggest the nonparticipation of the opioid system in the modulation of pain by HC.

<p><strong>Introdução:</strong> entende-se por interação medicamentosa a ação de um medicamento, alimento ou qualquer substância química sobre o efeito de outro medicamento gerando uma resposta farmacológica ou clínica. Associações de fármacos no tratamento de doenças crônicas são muito comuns, principalmente em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva, no entanto, podem causar algumas interações medicamentosas, as quais podem ser responsáveis por insucesso terapêutico e aumento dos custos hospitalares. <strong>Objetivo:</strong> analisar a ocorrência e o perfil de potenciais interações medicamentosas em pacientes da UTI do Hospital Universitário Alcides Carneiro em Campina Grande-PB. <strong>Metodologia:</strong> realizou-se um estudo transversal descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa, a partir de dados coletados de prescrições da UTI entre janeiro a junho de 2017, utilizando de um formulário específico. Para identificação das potenciais interações utilizou-se o <em>Drug-Reax System do software Micromedex^® Health Series</em>. <strong>Resultados: d</strong>entre as 109 prescrições avaliadas, 69,7% apresentaram alguma interação, totalizando 244 potenciais interações. Foram detectados em média 6,9 medicamentos/prescrição. A maioria das interações apresentou mecanismo de ação farmacodinâmico, grau de severidade maior, razoável documentação e início de ação não especificado. Todas as prescrições com mais de 10 fármacos apresentaram algum tipo de interação. <strong>Conclusão:</strong> o surgimento de interações em UTI possui alta prevalência, mas as associações são justificadas pelo seu risco/benefício, por isso devem ser avaliadas e monitoradas pelo farmacêutico e a equipe de saúde, com intuito de reduzir o surgimento de potenciais interações que levem a falhas terapêuticas e risco ao paciente, aperfeiçoando assim o manejo clínico.</p>

Combretum leprosum Mart, commonly refered to as is a Combretaceae "mofumbo", with a large distribution in the Northeastern region of Brazil, and is popularly used for the treatment haemorrhages and as a sedative. As there are no data in the literature about the pharmacological effects of the plant, we have determined the acute toxicity and studied the analgesics properties of this plant, using the tail immersion test and the formalin test. The results of the tail immersion test show an antinociceptive effect in the early period of observation (30 min), while in the formalin test this effect was observed in phase 1 (0-10 min) and phase 2 (20-40 min), suggesting that the plant possesses antinociceptive activity.