Antinociceptive Effect of Seed’s Essential Oil of Ferula Assa‑foetida in Mice
Abstract
Background and Aim: Ferula assa‑foetida L. is distributed throughout Central Asia and Mediterranean area and grows wildly in Iran and Afghanistan. In Iranian traditional medicine, F. assa‑foetida is considered to be sedative, analgesic, carminative, antispasmodic, diuretic, antihelminthic, emmenagogue, and expectorant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of seed’s essential oil of F. assa‑foetida (SEOFAF) in mice. Methods: The analgesic activity of SEOFAF (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) was compared with that of sodium diclofenac (30 mg/kg) or morphine sulfate (8 mg/kg) using hot plate and acetic acid‑induced writhing tests. Results: In hot plate test, the percentage of maximum possible effect against the thermal stimulus at 15 min posttreatment time point for all doses of SEOFAF was significantly greater than control group. The number of writhes in all three doses of SEOFAF was significantly less than control group. Conclusion: According to our findings, SEOFAF exhibited a significant antinociceptive effect on chronic and acute pain in mice. These effects probably involve central opioid pathways and peripheral anti‑inflammatory action.