In vivo and in silico elucidation of possible potential and mechanisms involved in the analgesic action of ethanolic extract of Lavandula Stoechas.

Abstract

Objectives: Our research focused on plant's ethanolic extract Lavandula stoechas flower part to investigate the potential analgesic effects and possible pathways involvements.

Methods: Four experimental tests were performed on Swiss albino mice with five animals in each group at different doses (50, 100, and 200mg/kg); formalin test, tail-flick test, acetic acid-induced writhing, and hot-plate test. The opioidergic, noradrenergic, cholinergic, and K channel blockers in the analgesic actions were also carried out for the potential route involvement.

Key finding: The percentage inhibition for abdominal writhing's and formalin activity showed a dose-dependent manner for early and late phases reducing abdominal writhing's and time period of licking, respectively. Tail immersion and hot-plate test demonstrated a substantial and dose-dependent increase in the latency time and time period of paw liking and jumping response respectively. GC-MS showed the abundantly present compounds were octadecatrienoic acid (34.35%), n-hexadecanoic acid (12.98%). In silico analyses have revealed three compounds that had good interactions with 6y3c receptor proteins, demonstrating strong binding affinities and satisfying docking parameters.

Conclusions: Overall, these studies showed that ethanolic extract of L. stoechas is an important medicinal plant, with both central and peripheral antinociceptive and analgesic activities supporting its traditional use for therapeutic purposes.