O efeito da artemisinina no controle da dor nociceptiva, inflamatória aguda e neuropática em ratos

Abstract

Introduction: Artemisinin, extracted from the leaves of Artemisia Annua, is a type of sesquiterpene lactone and has a variety of important pharmacological effects and potential applications, including its use against malaria, tumors and inflammation, as well as its ability to improve immune function. These applications suggest that it may play a role in pain control. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Artemisinin on the control of nociceptive, acute and neuropathic inflammatory pain in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: (1) nociceptive pain, evaluated in the tail withdrawal test; (2) inflammatory pain induced by Freund's Complete Adjuvant (CFA) and (3) neuropathic pain, submitted to the chronic constriction of the sciatic nerve (CCI) model. The animals had their baseline thresholds evaluated, and after induction of pain by CFA and CCI, their thresholds were again evaluated, and at 0, 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours after oral administration of saline (control) or Artemisinin in three doses: 0.03mg / kg, 0.3mg / kg and 3mg / kg. We still use the open field test to exclude possible motor effects. The results were analyzed by two-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post-test. Results: In the nociceptive pain model in the tail-removal test, animals treated with Artemisinin demonstrated a reduction in latency time at 3 hours, which was maintained for 24 hours at three doses, when compared to the control group. In the model of inflammatory pain, in the digital Von Frey test, animals treated with Artemisinin showed an increase in the pressure threshold after administration (T0), which was maintained for 24 hours in the three doses when compared to the control. In the model of neuropathic pain, in the digital Von Frey test, the animals treated with Artemisinin presented increase in the threshold in the after 1 hour that was maintained for 24 hours in the three doses, when compared to the control. There was no difference in the open field test. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that Artemisinin is capable of alleviating pain behaviors in rats submitted to nociceptive, acute inflammatory and neuropathic pain models.