Antinociceptive activity of Cnicus benedictus L. leaf extract: a mechanistic evaluation

Abstract

Background and purpose Cnicus benedictus , a medicinal herb, traditionally had been used for the treatment of stomachache pain. In this study, the possible efficacy of Cnicus benedictus leaf methanolic extract (CBHE) and also cnicin, one of its major constituents, was measured on pain. Experimental approach In this study, pain assessment tests include writhing, tail-flick (TF), and formalin- induced paw licking test (FIPLT) were used. To understand the possible mediated anti-nociceptive mechanism of CBHE, the opioid mechanism(s), and involvement of the L-arginine/ nitric oxide/cGMP/ATP-sensitive potassium channel pathway (LNCaP) were scrutinized. Findings/results In TF and writhing tests, CBHE (150 and 300 mg/kg, i.p) remarkably exhibited an anti-nociceptive effect compared to that of the control. Furthermore, CBHE (150 and 300 mg/kg, i.p) in comparison with the control showed a noteworthy anti-nociceptive effect ( P P P Conclusion and implications Taken together, we elucidate that both CBHE and cnicin demonstrated antinociceptive effects in behavioral tests. The possible mechanisms of CBHE antinociception may involve in various neural signaling and modulatory pathways including LNCaP and opioidergic mechanisms.