Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory, and acute toxicity effects of Asparagus persicus essential oil in male mice

Introduction : In Iranian traditional medicine, Asparagus persicus has been used for treating rheumatic pain and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory as well as acute toxicity effects of Asparagus persicus root essential oil (APEO) in male mice. Materials and Methods : Male adult mice were used. In pain assessment tests (writhing, tail-flick, and formalin tests), animals divided to the six groups: control/vehicle (Tween 80+distilled water), three groups treated with the APEO (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, gavage/oral treating), morphine (i.p.), and naloxone (i.p.) plus APEO (400 mg/kg). Moreover, inflammation test (xylene and carrageenan tests), animals divided to five groups: control, three groups of APEO (orally), and dexamethasone (i.p.). For toxicity tests, the animals were divided to the six groups. Results: Results showed that APEO at a dose of 400 mg/kg in writhing and tailflick tests induced an antinociceptive effect as compared with the control (P<0.01). In addition, in xylene test, treatment with doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of APEO reduced significantly the amount of mice ear inflammation compared to the control group. No acute acute toxicity of APEO was found. Conclusion: Our findings suggests that APEO has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in male mice.