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Planta Med 2011; 77(8): 825-829
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250607
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Chemical Composition, Acute Toxicity, and Antinociceptive Activity of the Essential Oil of a Plant Breeding Cultivar of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Antônio Medeiros Venâncio1 , 2 , Alexandre Sherlley Casimiro Onofre2 , Amintas Figueiredo Lira2 , Péricles Barreto Alves3 , Arie Fitzgerald Blank4 , Ângelo Roberto Antoniolli2 , Murilo Marchioro2 , Charles dos Santos Estevam2 , Brancilene Santos de Araujo2
  • 1Secretaria de Estado da Saúde, Centro de Investigação Toxicológica, Aracaju, SE, Brazil
  • 2Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, SE, Brazil
  • 3Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, SE, Brazil
  • 4Departamento de Engenharia Agronômica, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, SE, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

received June 7, 2010 revised Nov. 7, 2010

accepted Nov. 15, 2010

Publication Date:
14 December 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Ocimum basilicum L. is an aromatic herb used in Brazil to treat illnesses such as respiratory and rheumatic problems, vomiting, and pain. In the present study, the chemical composition, acute toxicity, and antinociceptive effects of the essential oil (EO) of the cultivar “Maria Bonita” obtained from O. basilicum L. PI 197442 genotype were evaluated in Swiss mice (20–35 g each). Lethal dose to cause 50 % death (LD50) was calculated from a dose-response curve (100–5000 mg/kg body wt.; n = 6) as 532 mg/kg body wt. In the acetic acid-induced writhing test (0.6 % i. p.), EO (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body wt., n = 8, s. c.) was effective in reducing the abdominal contractions at all doses (48–78 %). In the hot-plate test, EO significantly increased the latency at 50 mg/kg body wt. at all times (37–52 %, n = 8, s. c.). However, the effects of morphine and EO at 50 mg/kg were reverted in the presence of naloxone, an opioid antagonist. In the formalin test, EO significantly reduced paw licking time in the first and second phases of pain at 200 mg/kg body wt. (38 and 75 %, respectively, n = 8, s. c.). The results suggested that the peripheral and central antinociceptive effects of EO are related to the inhibition of the biosynthesis of pain mediators, such as prostaglandins and prostacyclins, and its ability to interact with opioid receptors.

Key words

Ocimum basilicum L. - Lamiaceae - lethal dose - central nervous system - central antinociception - peripheral antinociception

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Brancilene Santos de Araujo

Departamento de Fisiologia
Universidade Federal de Sergipe
Laboratório de Bioquímica de Produtos Naturais
Campus São Cristovão

CEP 49100-000

Aracaju, SE

Brasil

Phone: + 55 79 21 05 66 47

Fax: + 55 79 21 05 66 47

Email: bsa@ufs.br