Antinociceptive activity of the leaf essential oil of Coleus aromaticus Benth

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the possible antinociceptive effect of Coleus aromaticus Benth oil. The pain sensitivity was assessed by the acetic acid induced writhing and hotplate models in mice. The essential oil exhibited a significant reduction in acetic acid induced writhing response, a dose dependent increase in reaction time against thermal pain and a moderate motor impairment at analgesic doses and significant reduction in endurance time at higher dose on rotarod apparatus. These experimental results suggest that essential oil (250 and 500 mg/kg) produced analgesic effect in mice and may be a candidate for the development of pharmacological agents used in the pain management.