Phytochemical Analysis, Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Pycnocycla Bashgardiana Aerial Parts Essential Oil in Experimental Animals

Pycnocycla bashgardiana is used in Iranian traditional medicine for the relief and treatment of pain and inflammatory disorder. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of P.bashgardiana essential oil (PBEO).The anti-inflammatory effect of PBEO (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) were determined using carrageenan test in rat. The analgesic activity of PBEO (20, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) was studied by formalin test in mice. PBEO (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) significantly (p<0.05) inhibited the carrageenan-induced paw edema which was observed at the 3rd hour of the experiment by 43, 64 and 58%, respectively. PBEO showed significant anti-nociceptive effects in the first phase (200 mg/kg, 40% pain inhibition) and the second phase (100 mg/kg, 37% pain inhibition) of formalin test. According to the GC-Mass spectrometry findings, myristicin (21.1%), cis-isomyristicin (17.2%), E-β-ocimene (11.1%), and Z-β-ocimene (6.2%) were characterized as the main components. The results suggest that PBEO could be a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive agent in the management of inflammation-based disorders. These effects might be partially due to possible inhibition of or interference with the production of some inflammatory mediators.