Antinociceptive Effect of the Monoterpene R-(+)-Limonene in Mice

• Published in: Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2007, Vol.30(7), pp.1217-1220
• Main Authors: Amaral, Jeferson Falcão do, Silva, Maria Izabel Gomes, Manuel Rufino Aquino de Aquino Neto, Neto, Paulo Florentino Teixeira, Moura, Brinell Arcanjo, Carla Thiciane Vasconcelos de Melo, Fernando Luiz Oliveira de Araújo, Sousa, Damião Pergentino de, Vasconcelos, Patrícia Freire de, Silvânia Maria Mendes de Vasconcelos, Francisca Cléa Florenço de Sousa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics - pharmacology; Animals; antinociceptive; Cyclohexenes - pharmacology; Limonene; Male; Mice; naloxone; Naloxone - pharmacology; Pain Measurement; Pentobarbital - pharmacology; R-(+)-limonene; Stereoisomerism; Terpenes - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0918-6158; 1347-5215
• DOI: 10.1248/bpb.30.1217

In the present study were studied the antinociceptives properties of monoterpene R-(+)-limonene (LM) in chemical and thermal models of nociception in mice. The R-(+)-limonene was administered, intraperitoneally (i.p.), at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. The results showed significant inhibition produced on chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic-acid and in the second phase of subplantar formalin test, but did not manifest a significant effect in hot-plate test. The R-(+)-limonene-induced antinociception in second phase of formalin test was insensitive to naloxone (1 mg/kg, s.c.). It was also demonstrated that R-(+)-limonene (25, 50 mg/kg) neither significantly enhanced the pentobarbital-sleeping time nor impaired the motor performance in rota-rod test, indicating that the observed antinociception is unlikely to be due to sedation or motor abnormality. In conclusion it may be suggested that the R-(+)-limonene presented antinociceptive activity and that, probably, this action can be related with peripheral analgesia, but, not with the stimulation of opioids receptors.