Medicinal plants have been widely used in the treatment of chronic pain. In this study, we describe the antinociceptive effect of the essential oil from Croton conduplicatus (the EO 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p.), a medicinal plant native to Brazil. Antinociceptive activity was investigated by measuring the nociception induced by acetic acid, formalin, hot plate and carrageenan. A docking study was performed with the major constituents of the EO (E-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and camphor). The EO reduced nociceptive behavior at all doses tested in the acetic acid-induced nociception test (p < 0.05). The same was observed in both phases (neurogenic and inflammatory) of the formalin test. When the hot-plate test was conducted, the EO (50 mg/kg) extended the latency time after 60 min of treatment. The EO also reduced leukocyte migration at all doses, suggesting that its antinociceptive effect involves both central and peripheral mechanisms. Pretreatment with glibenclamide and atropine reversed the antinociceptive effect of the EO on the formalin test, suggesting the involvement of KATP channels and muscarinic receptors. The docking study revealed a satisfactory interaction profile between the major components of the EO and the different muscarinic receptor subtypes (M2, M3, and M4). These results corroborate the medicinal use of C. conduplicatus in folk medicine.

Our findings support the traditional use of this plant as a natural analgesic and suggest that EO is a multi-target natural product, presenting not only antinociceptive effect but also anxiolytic and sedative activities depending on the dose used.

Lippia schaueriana Mart. (Verbenaceae) is an endemic species of Caatinga with a restricted distribution to the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, which presents itself as a potential source of raw material for extraction of essential oil and exploitation by the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Considering that there are no reports in the literature of research carried out with this species, this paper aimed to establish—for the first time—the chemical composition of its essential oil. The essential oil of the dry leaves at room temperature was obtained by hydrodistillation after 3 h of extraction and the phytochemical analyzes were done by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main compounds found in the oil of leaves were piperitone oxide (51.25%), caryophyllene (17.76%), limonene (8.06%), spathulenol (6.63%), and piperitone (2.90%). The piperitone oxide is a compound described in the literature that shows antinociceptive, cardiovascular, analgesic, and relaxing activities, as well as fungicidal and insecticidal effect, which gives it an interesting potential for the alternative control of agricultural pests.

No abstract

O Brasil é um país rico em biodiversidade, sua cultura é herdada de diversos povos, dentre eles: indígenas e africanos, onde existe o costume da utilização de plantas medicinais. Muito dessa cultura se perdeu com o tempo, no entanto em populações mais abastadas, esse costume ainda persiste. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o levantamento bibliográfico de plantas medicinais comercializadas em feiras livres no Estado da Bahia, a fim de verificar as principais interações medicamentosas com medicamentos da Atenção Básica de Saúde. Foram realizadas pesquisas utilizando as base de dados PubMed, Scielo, Science Direct, SciFinder, usando como palavras chave: herbal and plants, pharmacokinetic, pharmacology, interactions, adverse effects, adverse reaction, safety e toxicity, entre outras. Diversas plantas foram encontradas na literatura, dessas, 44 são utilizadas com maior intensidade pela população. Das 44 plantas, 6 são usadas como coadjuvantes para o tratamento de Doenças Crônicas e todas as 6 apresentaram interações medicamentosas o que torna o seu uso preocupante.